Gilroy – Gilroy fire and police officials say the fire that
destroyed four classrooms at Glen View Elementary School was
intentionally set.
Gilroy – Gilroy fire and police officials say the fire that destroyed four classrooms at Glen View Elementary School was intentionally set.
“All legitimate causes have been ruled out by investigators,” Division Chief Ed Bozzo said.
Officials still do not know the exact cause of Tuesday’s fire, however they do know its origin: A janitorial cart parked outside a classroom. Electrical wiring and chemicals have been ruled out as possible accelerants.
Because all natural causes have been ruled out, the next direction investigators look is arson.
“That’s why it’s a tough one – we still need to find out what started it,” Bozzo said.
The fire began at 1:15pm Tuesday and quickly spread along the outside of the building. One classroom is a complete and total loss. The remaining three sustained a combination of smoke and water damage.
“When people say arson, they automatically think the intention was to burn down the school, but that’s probably not the case here,” Bozzo said. “It could have just been kids playing that got out of hand.”
Investigators have no leads yet, he said.
Gilroy police and fire departments as well as Gilroy Unified School District are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for setting the blaze.
Activity at Glen View persisted Friday – despite the fact it is Spring Break – and will throughout the weekend, as cleaning crews scramble to erase the remnants of fire from school desks, chairs, books and computers.
Glen View suffered an estimated $1.5 million in damages, school officials said.
But not all damages can be measured in dollar signs.
Students and teachers from four classrooms must return from school vacation Monday without any, or much of the materials they need.
Anyone with information about the fire may call the anonymous tip line at 846-0395.
To contribute
A fund has been established for the teachers to purchase new materials for their classrooms. Checks should be made out to cash with a notation for the fire relief fund and sent to Glen View School, West Eighth Street, Gilroy, CA 95020.
