A Fillmore boy was arrested July 22 on suspicion of starting a fire in the Fillmore High School parking lot that caused about $120,000 in damage.
On July 4 around 11:42 p.m., Ventura County Sheriff’s Office deputies alongside firefighters with the Fillmore and Ventura County Fire departments responded to a fire burning construction material for the Fillmore High School gymnasium, according to a news release. The sheriff's office is contracted with the city of Fillmore for police services.
The fire erupted in the Fillmore High School parking lot, which is next to Sierra High School. Fillmore Unified School District Superintendent Christine Schieferle said that the district was still assessing the full extent of damages.
Sheriff’s detectives and
Fillmore school resource deputies identified the Fillmore juvenile as a suspect after a week of investigation, officials said. Surveillance video obtained during the investigation showed him, prior to fleeing the area on foot, allegedly igniting what authorities identified as a “dangerous firework” that exploded and set the construction materials on fire.
He was previously arrested alongside three other minors in 2024 in connection with an arson incident at the Fillmore Historical Museum.
The juvenile was arrested on suspicion of offenses including arson and possession of dangerous fireworks before being released to a guardian.
On July 23, according to authorities, detectives with a warrant searched the juvenile’s residence on Santa Clara Avenue, where they found additional evidence linking him to the crime, including illegal fireworks.
Levi Kauffman is a summer intern for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at lkauffman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Fillmore boy suspected of causing high school fire
