By Perry Smith & Tyler Wainfeld
Signal Staff Writers
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials confirmed they are investigating at least two reports of fires that occurred near each other in Valencia, although Sheriff’s Department and fire officials had not reported their official determination of a crime as of about 3:30 p.m.
Station officials acknowledged receiving calls alleging fires had been deliberately set, but the incidents were part of an active investigation, and no suspects had been arrested.
Neither fire nor sheriff officials would comment as to whether the incidents were believed to be related or connected to arson as of this story’s publication.
Fire officials confirmed the separate incidents began within a half-hour of each other, within a relatively small radius.
The first incident involved a brush fire that broke out around 2:07 p.m. near College of the Canyons, and another was reported about a mile north of the campus, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.
Firefighters arrived at the intersection of Rockwell Canyon Road and Valencia Boulevard by 2:15 p.m. for a fire reported to be an eighth of an acre in size, according to Luis Garcia, a spokesman for the L.A. County Fire Department. Garcia said the dispatcher indicated the incident happened “behind the stadium” on the campus.
Forward progress was stopped at 2:22 p.m., though firefighters were still on the scene as of 2:55 p.m., according to Kaitlyn Aldana, a spokeswoman for the Fire Department.
The second fire, near the intersection of Tourney Road and Magic Mountain Parkway, was reported as being a quarter-acre in size in light fuel, according to Garcia. She added that one unit was dispatched at around 2:45 p.m. and was on the scene at 2:51 p.m.
No injuries were reported as a result of the incidents, and no structures were threatened, according to Garcia.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
