RIVERSIDE (CNS) - The Riverside Fire Department today is investigating a suspected arson that caused tends of thousands of dollars in damage to a U.S. Post Office just west of downtown Riverside.
Fire crews responded at 1:51 a.m. Friday to a series of nearby fires near Sunnyside Drive, Brian Guzzetta of the Riverside Fire Department told City News Service.
Guzzetta said that upon arrival, firefighters saw a fire on the rear side of the U.S. Post Office at 3681 Sunnyside Drive and several trash fires nearby.
Battalion Chief Garrett Coryell said three engine crews and a truck company -- numbering 15 personnel -- were sent to the location and encountered flames to the rear of the Post Office.
"The fire ... extended in through a window into the interior," Coryell said. "Along with the structure fire, there was a dumpster fire next door, and a trash can on fire down the street, near the Big 5 Sporting Goods store." The area is adjacent to the Riverside Plaza Shopping Center.
Firefighters knocked all of the blazes within 40 minutes, he said.
The blaze made it inside of the postal office, but the damage was limited to three empty postage envelopes and postage boxes, according to Guzzetta.
"U.S. Postal representatives have confirmed that there was no mail that was damaged or destroyed at the post office," Guzzetta told CNS.
Fire officials posted on social media that no mail, including mail-in ballots was damaged or destroyed in the fires.
The estimated damage to the Post Office was $80,000, according to the fire department spokesman, but there were no injuries.
"We have investigators currently on scene that are reviewing surveillance cameras in the area," Guzzetta said. "They have a person of interest and they're trying to link the individual to the fire based upon the surveillance footage."
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