Flames Break Out At Apple Valley Fire Station; Suspected Arsonist Arrested

APPLE VALLEY (CBSLA.com) — Getting a call in the wee hours of the morning to fight fires is not unusual for some Apple Valley firefighters. But having to put out flames at their own fire station is, and they did just that Monday.

Flames broke out around 4:30 a.m. at Central Road at Highway 18, behind the Chevron gas station – an outbuilding on the property of the Apple Valley Fire Protection District, just 100 feet away from where the firefighters were sleeping, according to the Apple Valley Fire District Fire Marshal Jason Nailon.

Firefighters quickly put out the fire before it could spread to the station or the fuel tanks nearby.

Three fire investigators, the fire marshal and the fire chief, plus the sheriff's arson bomb detective, responded to the scene.

The shed apparently contained years of storage records.

Nailon said the investigation found there were multiple attempt to get into the station, as well as the outbuildings.

One fire district vehicle was also broken into and there was an attempt to hot wire the vehicle.

One suspect, who was found in a car that got stuck on a curb just outside the station, has been taken into custody.

Stolen equipment, including a fire helmet was found and recovered from the car.