Fire At Richmond's De Anza High School Could Be Suspicious
RICHMOND (BCN) - Fire investigators believe that a two-alarm fire that caused upwards of $1 million damage to De Anza High School's cafeteria early Friday morning could be suspicious, Richmond fire Chief Michael Banks said.
A neighbor saw smoke and flames coming from the school at 5000 Valley View Road at 1:24 a.m. and called 911.
Firefighters from a fire station across the street were at the school within minutes, Banks said.
When they arrived, the doors to the school were locked and they had to force entry. Once inside, however, they found that several fire extinguishers had been discharged inside the cafeteria, Banks said.
The fire appears to have started in the kitchen, but a precise point of origin had not been determined this morning, Banks said.
Richmond firefighters were joined by firefighters from El Cerrito, Pinole and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
Crews were able to contain the blaze to the school's cafeteria and had it under control by about 2:15 a.m., Banks said.
According to Banks, Richmond police are conducting an investigation alongside the fire department.
Although the damage to the school was originally estimated to be about $500,000, Banks said further assessment of the cafeteria has put the estimate closer to $1 million to $1.5 million.
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