Links investigated in business corridor blazes

Series of small fires may involve arson, authorities say

SANTA CRUZ >> Local police and fire agencies are investigating whether or not several small-scale fires in one area of Soquel Avenue are related and if arson may be involved, authorities said Wednesday.

Most recently, the Midtown Surf Shop suffered an estimated $40,000 in damage after an external fire at the business’ rear began to encroach on the building late Saturday night. Shop owner Erica Fenson said, in speaking with neighboring businesses, she found that hers was not the only recent fire.

“Since this has happened to Midtown Surf Shop, we’ve learned of several businesses on Soquel Ave. who have had instances of fires outside of their buildings,” Fenson wrote in an email to the Sentinel Tuesday. “Santa

Cruz Movement has actually had two fires started and I believe one was caught on camera. I had another business reach out to me today letting me know she found the remains of a small fire in the alcove of her hair salon on March 27, on Soquel Ave., on the same day our fire happened.”

Fellow community member Seana Sullivan wrote to the Sentinel of other small fires at York Framing Gallery and a nearby jewelry store in the past few weeks.

Santa Cruz Police Department Lt. Arnold Vasquez said his detectives are investigating the area’s fires, but did not have immediate details on the effort’s progress Wednesday. Santa Cruz

Fire Department Division Chief Rob Oatey confirmed that his department also was looking at a grouping of recent suspicious fires in the same commercial corridor in recent weeks and had not yet ruled out arson as a cause.

Oatey said individual business operations and/or warming fires also may be causes. With the help of two surveillance videos turned over by local businesses, authorities have found a “person of interest” related to some of the fires, but their link to the entire grouping remains unclear, he said.

“There has been fire activity, albeit small, but obviously a concern, and that’s why we’re looped in with the police department investigations unit and working with them on trying to collect more information,” Oatey said. “One thing we’ve been noticing with those businesses is they’re contacting us, but in order for us the process to get moving in the right direction, they need to file a police report. At which point, we get looped in.”

Oatey suggested reporting suspicious fires to police if there is even a small question of their cause and that residents and businesses remain alert to what is going on in the neighborhood.

Fenson said she felt it was important to alert neighborhood businesses of the issue. She recommended that business owners secure their buildings with the help of cameras, security systems and gates and suggested they also obtain locking dumpsters positioned away from their buildings, fences or other structures where fire can spread.

“There has been fire activity, albeit small, but obviously a concern, and that’s why we’re looped in with the police department investigations unit and working with them on trying to collect more information.” — Rob Oatey, Santa Cruz Fire Department Division Chief