CA: "Arson suspected in massive fire" (ELF Terrorism Alert)

SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES ^ | August 1, 2003

[TheDon]

 

Arson suspected in massive fire

SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES

9:18 a.m., August 1, 2003

Durodami Lisk

Flames soar from an apartment complex under construction in University City at about 3:25 a.m. Friday.

Click here for larger version

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.

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.

[TheDon]

Just heard on the local radio that a sign was found nearby that was signed by ELF and said something to the effect, "if you build it, we will burn it". It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[steplock]

Time to break out those .50 cal long guns!

Hmmm ... can you dum-dum those rounds for more spectacular effects on contact? A tracer rounds throughan ELF's head would be a site by itself though - especially at dusk.

[heleny]

What a pity. The additional housing would have been nice in this area of housing shortages. A fire doesn't help the environment, either.

A few years ago (2-4 years ago) the ELF or somesuch group burned down experimental crops at UCSD, ruining some graduate students' research work, and spray painted graffiti on the walls of the greenhouse or nearby buildings. Many of the plants were exotic or non-native plants, not artificially-genetically-modified plants.

The intersection of Towne Center Drive and La Jolla Village Drive is next to the UTC mall, just 2-3 miles from UCSD. The eco-terrorists must like this area.

[heleny]

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.

[heleny]

Remember, the terrorist groups ELF and ALF are funded by PETA.

[11B3]

I've got some mercury if you want to add it to some hollow points for them. There's enough of it in most thermostats for one round.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Just drove by there a few weeks ago, when I was in San Diego.

I don't see why we can't open a new section in Guantanamo for ELF arsonists. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if there were informal ties between ELF and Al Qaeda - they have a lot of tactics to share.

[MediaMole]

These are real domestic terrorists. 'Course the FBI is too busy draining ponds to look for these nuts.

[Poohbah]

No, no, no!

"My object all sublime I shall achieve in time--to make the punishment fit the crime." Gilbert & Sullivan,

They like fires, eh? This classic from the glory days of the GRU (Soviet military intelligence) seems fitting:

1. Strap ELF member to gurney.

2. Put gurney on conveyor belt feeding into a blast furnace.

3. Ensure blast furnace is on "full-tilt boogie" setting.

4. Put conveyor belt on "Slow" setting.

5. Videotape the event pour encourager l'autres.

[Master of Orion]

There should be another sign. "If you burn it, we'll order more lumber!"
Their actions are hastening the demise of the pristine.

[two23]

Self-Loathing, Godless, Haters-of-Mankind-Bump

[heleny]

Eco-Terrorists Responsible For Massive Fire?

Banner near fire reads: "If You Build It, We Will Burn It -- ELF." Investigators believe ELF could stand for the Earth Liberation Front -- an eco-terrorist group responsible for numerous construction site fires worldwide.

An apartment complex construction site goes up in flames in the University City area.

. .

. .

. .

. .

.

[Ben Hecks]

I have always considered ELF to be a militant wing of the Sierra Club.

[NorseWood]

The ELFs burned some car lots (SUV's) up in the Pacific Northwest and the fires caused more harmful pollution than the normal driving of the SUV would ever have caused.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Tijeras_Slim]

I've been through there on business, it's hardly pristine wilderness. What a bunch of maroons.

[ladyesk]

I drove by the site this morning while taking my kids to a summer camp. This is really sad, and stupid. If the ELF is responsible, its time that group gets tried and punished for their actions.
I'm glad that no one was killed. But it must have been really scary if you lived in the apartments right next to this. Being woken up at 3am and told to evacuate.

[onyx]

Roger Hedgecock is talking about ELF and the fire now.

Question: You'd think a builder would have a hired security patrol on duty. If so, I wonder if the fire is an inside job?

[mallardx]

Just like the State Dept. does in Iraq, the Justice Department should offer a $1 million reward for info leading to an arrest; and the suspects should await trial in Guantanamo...

[Noumenon]

ELF = shoot on sight.