Third Teen Arrested In Long Beach Arson Fires

BELMONT SHORE, CA – A third 14-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a string of arson fires in Long Beach, including one at a business where a firefighter suffered burns to his hands, an official said Wednesday.

The firefighter suffered second-degree burns to both of his hands while battling the three-alarm fire on June 12 at Dogz Bar and Grill at 5300 E. Second St. in Belmont Shore, where damage was conservatively estimated at around $160,000, according to Jake Heflin of the Long Beach Fire Department.

Two 14-year-old boys had been arrested on Saturday and the third was arrested on Tuesday, Heflin said.

The three boys are also suspected of setting three trash fires, including one that damaged a fence, and another fire that burned a palm tree, Heflin said. And investigators are looking into the suspects' possible connection to a fire that damaged a classroom Saturday evening at Naples Elementary School at 5537 E. The Toledo, according to Heflin.

"Regarding the cause, all six fires are listed as incendiary and were deliberately set between June 12 and June 16th, 2018," Heflin said, adding that all of the fires remain under investigation.

All three teens were booked into Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey. Their custody status was not immediately available.

City News Service; Image via Shutterstock