By Shari Kaplan
At 2:43 a.m. on May 8, a two-alarm fire on Kennedy Road caused approximately $150,000 worth of damage to a vacant dwelling.
According to Bill Hardwicke, chief fire investigator for the Central Fire District, a resident of nearby Forester Road reported the fire at 16051 Kennedy Road after being awakened by a glow from the flames.
"It was a fully involved fire--through the roof and out the windows," Hardwicke said.
The CFD responded with five fire engines, two battalion chiefs and one hazardous-materials unit. Five volunteer firefighters and two investigators, including Hardwicke and his arson-sniffing dog Dolph, joined the other firefighters at the scene. The Los Gatos Police Department sent patrol cars as well.
The fire was under control within 25 minutes, although some personnel remained until 8 a.m., checking for smoldering hot spots and evidence. Hardwicke said the cause of the fire was determined to be arson, but he could not disclose further information.
Hardwicke requests that anyone with information on the fire or possible suspects should call the LGPD at 354-8600 or the We-Tip anonymous hotline at 1-800-47-ARSON.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, May 15, 1996.
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