SANTA CRUZ COUNTY (KRON) — The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in a suspected arson case that left six cars destroyed and torched early Wednesday morning, sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Roy Morales said.
The arson caused more than $100,000 in damage, Morales said.
Crews from the Central Fire Protection District responded to a reported dumpster fire at a business complex in the 2900 block of Park Avenue shortly after midnight, Morales said.
When firefighters reached the scene they found a car on fire, Morales said.
Roughly an hour later, fire crews were notified of another fire at an apartment complex on Subec Lane, located less than a block away from the first blaze, according to Morales.
Five cars were found engulfed in flames, Morales said.
Firefighters were able to contain fires on four additional cars in a wooden carport and minimize the damage, according to Morales.
Sheriff’s deputies searched the area for other damaged cars and believe the two fires are linked, Morales said.
The cause of the fires is under investigation.
Anyone with information or video footage that can help in the case is asked to call the sheriff’s dispatch at (831) 471-1121 or detectives at (831) 454-7600.Bay City News contributed to this report