CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) - Two fires broke out at Otay Ranch High School in Chula Vista Wednesday morning, but firefighters were able to put them out before classes were scheduled to begin.
The fires set off alarms at the school at 1250 Olympic Pkwy. shortly before 7:30 a.m.
Chula Vista police said responding firefighters arrived to find flames and smoke coming from a men’s restroom near the school’s 700 building. About 100 yards away, a second fire was spotted in a Dumpster.
Firefighters were able to quickly douse the fires before they spread. Sweetwater Union High School District spokesman Manny Rubio said the fire in the restroom melted plastic fixtures inside. He also noted that firefighters were forced to break into the bathroom’s wall to make sure the fire did not spread further.
The Dumpster fire did not cause any identifiable damage, police said.
No injuries were reported.
Due to the fire response, students and staff members already on school grounds were forced to evacuate to the football and softball fields. Others arriving at school were told to wait outside until the situation was resolved.
Classes went ahead as normal following the firefighting effort, with additional campus police officers assigned to the school for the rest of the school day.
Police said the fires are "suspicious in nature" and are being investigated as arson incidents. According to police, there is “no information connecting the school fires to other recent fires in Chula Vista.”
Anyone with information on the incident at Otay Ranch High is urged to contact CVPD at 619-422-8477.
