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A small patch of grass near the corner of the West Elementary School playground was burned Jan. 24. Police found a cigarette lighter nearby.

Police try to determine who started grass fire
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: January 29, 2015

Valley Center investigators are fairly certain the grass fire near West Elementary School on North Sheridan on Jan. 24 was started by someone playing with a cigarette lighter, but they aren't sure who started it.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze before it spread into the fenced schoolyard on the southwest corner of the property. A group of kids were nearby playing basketball on the school's outdoor court. The told police they saw a girl run from the area before they saw the fire.

Police found a cigarette lighter in the area and were able to interview the 13-year-old girl, but don't have much evidence to determine for sure whether it was arson.

"It might have been intentionally set," police Sgt. Lloyd Newman said.

The fire burned a small area of dry grass, but did not cause any other damage.





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