Suspicious blaze destroys Millbrae Community Center: Officials believe arson may have sparked fire claiming community facility

Millbrae Councilman Wayne Lee expressed his dismay over the loss of a facility that enhanced the quality of life for so many residents.

“It’s very disruptive to the community,” he said. “It’s tragic. It’s like a loss of someone in your family.”

Law enforcement now question whether a serial arsonist may be involved, noting incidents last summer in which an unknown suspect sparked multiple fires at Taylor Middle School. Those crimes occurred in the early mornings of June 29, July 1 and July 30, 2015, and ranged from a cluster of six small fires in the quad to a bench being torched, each causing relatively minor damage.

Kammeyer said officials are committed to identifying the source of Thursday’s blaze.

“We don’t have any concrete evidence of what might have caused it yet,” he said. “Investigators are currently working on that.”

It’s believed the fire originated toward the back of the community building near a patio overlooking a playground and the city’s Central Park. Kammeyer said the fire appears to have been intentionally set, prompting them to contact the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate.

“We requested assistance from ATF given the dollar figure and the building that we’re looking at. So at this point, we are looking at it as suspicious,” Kammeyer said as crews and ladder trucks continued to put out hot spots along the collapsed roof Thursday morning. “We’re considering it a total loss right now.”

Detective Sal Zuno, spokesman for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, said law enforcement officials will search for ties between the source of the Community Center fire and the small burns which have recently been sparked in Millbrae.

“Our investigators will look into any correlation with the nearby fires,” he said.

Millbrae Elementary School District officials recently authorized installing cameras at local campuses in hopes of identifying the arsonists responsible for starting the school fires.

No surveillance cameras were installed at the Recreation Center, but Kammeyer said residents who have cameras as part of a home security system are encouraged to share the footage with law enforcement.

Initial investigations have not yielded any trace of accelerants, said Kammeyer.

The Community Center blaze sent shock waves through the community as the nearly 50-year-old center was a popular destination for people of all ages offering after-school programs, adult exercise classes and public meetings.

Millbrae Mayor Anne Oliva called the loss of the community hub “devastating,” but expressed her appreciation to first responders for ensuring all remained safe.

“Whether it was anybody inside or working on this project, nobody was hurt,” she said. “So I’m grateful for that.”

Regular center attendees awoke to warnings that classes had been canceled and nearby residents were advised to shelter in place with the windows closed as smoke billowed throughout the neighborhood. The nearby playground was also roped off.

“There’s so much history behind it. … I think every resident here has used the facility one way or another. This is the only facility we have,” said Helen, a 20-year resident who preferred not to give her last name. “What are we going to do?”

Helen said her children frequently attended after-school programs and she herself was on her way to a Jazzercise class Thursday morning when she heard the news.

“It’s like the heart of the community. … The kids feel safe here,” Helen said. “It’s a real loss.”

Still reeling from the news, officials had no immediate estimate as to when plans for a new center might take shape. City officials are set to host a meeting at City Hall, 621 Magnolia Ave., at 8 a.m., Friday, July 22, to address next steps.

Councilwoman Ann Schneider said she is certain the city will recover from the setback.

“We are a strong community, we will bounce back,” he said.

The facility was expected to be a central hub of operations for the weekend’s Relay for Life event, set to host a pancake breakfast Saturday, July 23. Now, Lee said the event will be held at Spring Valley Elementary School.

Amy Johnson, a former Parks and Recreation commissioner, said she teared up as she saw the damage to the building that was a staple in the city.

“This is a huge, huge loss. It’s just unbelievable,” Johnson said. “Knowing there’s enough people involved in this building and what this building represents, I think it will absolutely be rebuilt and become a priority.”

County Supervisor Dave Pine, whose district covers Millbrae, agreed the center was heavily used by everyone from youth to seniors. In the near term, Pine said he anticipates the city will strive to continue programs to the greatest extent possible and hopes the broader community will rally behind them.

“I’m hoping neighboring jurisdictions might be able to help by providing space, providing recreation equipment and other supplies that might have been used by programs in the rec center,” Pine said. “If the county and neighboring jurisdictions can help, I’m sure we can find a way.”

Vice Mayor Reuben Holober, a Millbrae native, said the memories established in the Community Center are irreplaceable, but he expects the community to rally and fully recover.

“It’s a big shock and a big loss, but it is also an opportunity,” he said. “It was a bit of an outdated building. So while we will miss it, we have the opportunity to create a modern facility that we will all be proud of.”

Anyone with information that could help identify a suspect responsible for starting the fire is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office Millbrae Division at (650) 259-2321.