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Though investigators have not determined the cause of the Sept. 6, 2023 county building fire, a witness said they had heard glass break and saw “an individual leaving the property” before the fire began around 3 a.m.
The San Benito County Sheriff’s Department has made no arrests and the fire investigation has remained open.
One neighbor told BenitoLink they were awakened the night of the fire by the sound of glass breaking. They said they went outside to make sure their cars were not damaged and saw a person pacing the second floor of the building on the 400 block of Fifth Street and speaking loudly.
Sheriff Eric Taylor confirmed a witness told authorities this. He said his office has identified a person of interest but cannot identify or arrest anyone without the fire investigators making a determination if it was arson.
“We don’t have experts in the sheriff’s office to say it’s arson,” Taylor said. “We can’t have probable cause [without it]. Hollister Fire is not giving us that opinion.”
Hollister Fire Chief Jonathan Goulding said, “At this point the fire department does not have enough information to make a determination. However the case is not closed so if new information becomes available they’ll continue the investigation.”
Taylor said he believes the fire was intentional.
The neighbor said they did not report the incidents before the fire to law enforcement because it wasn’t out of the ordinary, as unhoused people tend to sleep in that area. The county building is a block from Dunne Park, where unhoused persons frequently congregate.
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118.jpg?resize=780%2C520&ssl=1″ alt=”Worker at the county building, which was damaged by a fire in September, carry down damaged items. Photo by Monserrat Solis.” class=”wp-image-90395″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C471&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-scaled.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/benitolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6118-1024×683.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px”>
According to the fire report, a county employee told investigators there was a sleeping bag and clothing near the door of the storage room for part of the previous day. The employee also said a planter nearby was used as an ashtray. Investigators have concluded the fire started in the storage room.
The report also states investigators did not find signs of electrical arcing—electrical discharge, or outlet failure—or cigarettes or lighters in the room where the fire began.
They did find a broken planter and dirt spread near the entrance of the room. Investigators also found an empty beer can, liquor bottle, a cigarette butt and a marijuana cigarette outside the room. Investigators also found a broken window, but the report does not state whether it was caused by the fire or broken beforehand.
Extensive damage
Investigators estimate there was $6.8 million in property damages. The fire required the relocation of several county departments, including the elections, assessor’s and auditor-controller’s department, to other county buildings. The Fifth Street building is still not in use.
A door of the building had been damaged by a smaller fire seven months earlier.
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