Arson suspected in massive fire 9:18 a.m., August 1, 2003
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. 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. 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.
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