EL CAJON, Calif. (KGTV) — The aftermath of a fire at the Terraza Hills apartment complex has left residents grappling with frustration and loss. On Thursday night, blazes swept through a row of garages, affecting multiple families.
“My truck. It’s literally just a shell of its former self,” said Jacob Allison. Having invested approximately $30,000 in refurbishing the vehicle for his son, Allison faces a loss that cannot be recovered.
“It crushed me. My son hadn't even got to see that truck. He didn’t even know it was his truck,” said Allison.
Catalina Ramirez, a single mom of three, faces the stress of losing her car and essential belongings.
“I'm very stressed out. I don't have a car to go to work. I don't have a car to take my kids to school,” said Ramirez.
The fire, impacting 14 garages, raises concerns about the safety and security of the complex. Investigators identify Mavis Williams, 43, as a suspect, allegedly part of a group living in the garage where the fire originated.
“I've seen her for years. I thought she lived here,” said Allison.
Allison said there are approximately 12 homeless individuals occupying various garages in the complex.
“You'll see the garages kicked open, and they shouldn’t be. You hear people talking and stuff,” he said.
Williams is wanted for unlawfully causing a fire to an inhabited structure. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
