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Arson suspected in massive fire SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES
9:18 a.m., August 1, 2003
SAN DIEGO – A huge blaze leveled an apartment building under construction in University City today, forcing the evacuation of nearby residents and triggering an arson investigation.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, which broke out at about 3 a.m. at the intersection of La Jolla Village Drive and Towne Centre Drive, fire officials said.
The Metro Arson Strike Team was called out to investigate the cause of the blaze, a dispatcher said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was also called in, after the discovery of a banner that threatened further attacks, according to reports.
A large banner declaring "If you build it, we will burn it," was photographed on the construction site by television news helicopters hovering overhead.

The banner bore the signature of a group calling itself "E.L.F," which, according to some web sites could be linked to eco-terrorist groups the Environmental Liberation Front or the Earth Liberation Front.
Groups under both names have claimed responsibility for starting fires in protests of developments around the country.
Before burning itself out, the fire shot flames as high as 100 feet into the predawn sky, engulfed what was to have been a 200-unit building and caused a 100-foot-high crane to topple, officials said.
Intense heat forced firefighters to let the inferno burn itself out, the dispatcher said.
"There was some concern that the heat would affect the nearby residences, so we had to make sure it didn't spread," the dispatcher said.
The Red Cross was called to assist evacuated residents, San Diego police Lt. Rich Nemetz said. Heat from the fire was so intense, residents reported returning to their apartments and finding portions of their plastic blinds melted.
A command post was established at Golden Haven Drive and Towne Centre Drive, Nemetz said.
The fire shut down the Nobel Drive offramp from Interstate 5 and the La Jolla Village offramp from Interstate 805 for about 30 minutes, California Highway Patrol Officer Alicia Contreras said.