Arson suspected in Lancaster house, car fires

LANCASTER – Two arson investigations are underway after a house and a car caught fire at two locations in Lancaster early Saturday morning.

The first fire occurred at a home in 100 block of West Newgrove Street, according to Sgt. Kevin Schlecht of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

Lancaster Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to the home around 1 a.m., and the fire was being extinguished by Los Angeles County Fire Department, Engine 33, Schlecht stated.

“The victim stated she was awakened by a noise, and when she looked toward the front door she saw the house was on fire,” Schlecht said in a news release. The victim was able to evacuate her family from the home and call 9-1-1. No one was injured, but the fire caused roughly $150,000 worth of damage, officials said.

Once the blaze was extinguished, fire department personnel advised the deputies that the fire appeared to have been deliberately set, Schlecht stated.

Less than three hours after the house fire, Lancaster deputies responded to a vehicle fire in the 44600 block of Andale Avenue.

Deputies arrived around 3:40 a.m., and Los Angeles County Fire Department, Engine 33, was on scene extinguishing the fire, according to Sgt. Robert Round of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

The victim said a neighbor woke him up and told him that a car in his driveway was on fire, Round stated.

After the fire was extinguished, fire department personnel advised the deputies that the fire appeared to be deliberately set, according to Round.

No one was injured, but the fire caused moderate damage to the vehicle and minor damage to the residence estimated at around $4,000, Round stated.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Department Arson/Explosives Detail (AED) have taken over both investigations.

Anyone with information on these incidents are encouraged to contact Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Arson/Explosives Detail at 323-881-7500. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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