Two fires in two days on same block fuel arson-suspicious minds

“We’re caught in a trap

I can’t walk out

Because I love you baby”

— Elvis Presley

The 1100 block of North Escondido Boulevard went all “Suspicious Minds” early Monday, March 13 as the second of two fires that broke out within 24 hours of each other at two residences was knocked down.

The first fire — “We can’t go on together” — broke out around 5 a.m. Sunday on the inflamed block near Espanas Glen, according to Escondido fire Battalion Chief Art Holcomb.

This fire seemed to have been caused by an electrical spark thrown off a bad window fan cord in an upstairs bedroom. The fan caught fire, then fell into a trash can like in a bad Rube Goldberg parody. The trash can melted and burnt a rug as the house filled up with smoke.

Arriving firefighters heard fire smoke alarms ringing as they ran to the rescue, taking about 15 minutes to knock down the flames.

Alas, it wasn’t enough to save the house from smoke and water damage estimated at $25,000. In the “And we can’t build our dreams together” department, the family was displaced.

So far so bad, but once again firefighters were called to the neighborhood almost 24 hours later at 5:15 a.m., Monday, March 14 as another home became engulfed in flames.

This fire proved more difficult to contain. Firefighters entered the suspicious minds stage as they took 30 minutes to bat down the flames.

“When we arrived it was fully involved and you could see flames,” Battalion Chief Chip Paulson of Escondido Fire said.

“It’s suspicious in nature because [the apartment] was vacant and [the fire] started in the kitchen area. The doors were unlocked when we arrived,” Paulson said.

The fire started in kitchen and spread up into attic. It caused extensive damage and cleanup effort was underway Monday morning, according to Paulson

Investigators deemed the blaze suspicious because firefighters found the door unlocked and opened even though no one lived in the apartment, Holcomb said.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation. The damage was estimated at $10,000, Holcomb said.

“Here we go again

Asking where I’ve been

You can’t see these tears are real

I’m crying (Yes I’m crying)”