San Diego

Arson Suspected in 2 Fires at South Bay High School

Students at a South Bay high school were evacuated Wednesday due to two fires on campus that are believed to be arson, the Chula Vista Police Department said Wednesday.

Firefighters were called to respond to the fires at Otay Ranch High School, off Olympic Parkway, at about 7:30 a.m. CVPD also responded. 

When crews arrived, flames and smoke were pouring from the men's restroom and another fire was burning in a dumpster 100 yards away. 

Students, in the meantime, were evacuated to the school's football and softball fields as a precaution, Principal Anna Pedroza said in a letter. 

Crews were able to quickly get the fires under control and, due to the suspicious nature of the blazes, launched an arson investigation into the incident.

The fires caused minor damages and no injuries were reported. 

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, CVPD said.

Classes resumed as normal except for two classrooms, school officials said. Additional police officers would be on campus for the rest of the day.

The fires do not appear connected to a recent fire at an Otay Ranch apartment complex Sunday evening.  amid red flag warning conditions , CVPD said.

The fire, which erupted in a populated neighborhood amid red flag warning condition, was suspected to have been started by teenagers, according to CVPD. 

No other information was available.

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