ENCINITAS, Calif. – A fire damaged an Encinitas church early Saturday morning, marking the second fire to break out at the church in the span of three weeks.
The church is also located across the street from Oak Crest Middle School, which was damaged by a two-alarm fire two weeks ago.
At 5 a.m., Encinitas Fire Department crews responded a fire at Saint Andrews Preschool, located inside the Saint Andrews Episcopal Church at 890 Balour Dr. The church is located across the street from
According the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze before it could spread outside the preschool. A financial estimate of the damage was not confirmed.
A witness reported seeing a male fleeing from the church at the time of the fire, the sheriff’s department said. Deputies conducted a search of the area but were unable to locate any suspects.
At around 5 a.m. on Oct. 22, a fire broke out on a building on the Saint Andrews Church property. The circumstances of that fire were not confirmed. Deputies did not disclose if they believe the two fires are connected.
At around 3:40 a.m. on Oct. 29, a two-alarm fire tore through the administration building at Oak Crest Middle School.
There were no reported injuries in any of the fires.
The sheriff’s department Bomb/Arson Unit is investigating all three. Anyone with information on the cases should call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
