Two teens arrested for arson: Law enforcement officials believe suspicious blaze in Millbrae may have been started accidentally

Detective Sal Zuno, spokesman for the county sheriff’s office which provides law enforcement services to Millbrae, said information collected leading to the arrest made Friday, July 22, indicated the two suspects may not have intended to burn down the recreation center when they started the fire outside the facility.

“Information suggests that the incident was due to negligence and it was not intentional, but the investigation is still ongoing,” said Zuno, during a Monday press conference at Millbrae City Hall.

Fire crews responded to the four-alarm fire at the Millbrae Community Center, 477 Lincoln Circle, around 4 a.m. Thursday, July 21, to find the facility engulfed in flames. Once the fire reached the attic, firefighters decided the building could not be saved and it was ultimately destroyed.

The investigation showed the fire began outside the building in a nearby courtyard, which led to fire and law enforcement officials announcing they believed the source was suspicious and possibly arson, though no suspects had been immediately identified.

Zuno declined to share details regarding evidence collected during the investigation which led to the arrests, but suggested social media postings could have contributed to identifying the suspects who ultimately admitted to starting the fire.

He would not offer more information illustrating what the teens may have been doing in front of the recreation center in the early morning hours prior to the fire, but said neither had a criminal history.

There is no evidence linking the suspects to the small arsons which were started recently at Taylor Middle School, said Zuno, but investigators are still looking into potential links.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives contributed to the investigation, as the loss of the facility amounted to more than $1 million. The building was insured, and city officials are working with agents to discuss cost recovery.

Law enforcement officials are thankful to have apprehended the suspects believed to be responsible for the fire which gutted a central hub of the Millbrae community, said Zuno.

“We are relieved because the community center was a significant landmark for the city of Millbrae,” he said. “This fire affected a lot of residents, as well as law enforcement that participated in the programs in that building.”

Zuno said law enforcement officials wanted to dispel any notion circulating through the community that the recreation center fire was the work of people believed to have started other fires in Millbrae.

Millbrae Mayor Anne Oliva expressed a similar sentiment.

“We are relieved we don’t have serial arsonists in our community,” she said.

Looking forward, Oliva said the focus of city officials has become finding a home for the variety of programs formerly housed at the center which have been displaced by the fire.

The events for students which were held at the community center have been moved to Taylor Middle School and last weekend’s Relay For Life event was relocated at the last minutes to Spring Valley Elementary School.

Now officials are working overtime with community partners to find space for many of the other programs, said City Manager Marcia Raines.

“There are ongoing day to day needs and we are matching that up with volunteers for the space that we have received,” she said.

A fund has been set up through the Millbrae Community Foundation which will pay toward making sure all local programs find a home, said Oliva. A community meeting is scheduled Monday, Aug. 8, to further discuss next steps for recovering from the loss of the center.

But in the wake of the fire, and the subsequent arrest, Oliva said she is certain the Millbrae community will rebound.

“We are going to get through this,” she said.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 105