A 16-year-old boy was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of setting off fireworks that caused a fire on an apartment balcony in San Pablo, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire).
Con Fire responded to the fire in the 15000 block of Crestwood Drive, with an explosion heard prior to fire. The fire was contained to the balcony area but caused extensive smoke and water damage to the entire apartment, Con Fire said.
Fire investigators determined the blaze resulted from a five-inch mortar type firework being set off on the second-story balcony. Additional fireworks of the same type that caused the fire were removed from the apartment. The 16-year-old was arrested on a felony charge of causing a fire to an inhabited structure. The boy, whose identity was not released because of his age, was released to his parents’ custody following his arrest, fire officials said.
“Con Fire’s Fire Investigation Unit will present the case to the District Attorney for juvenile
matters and refer the responsible party to the Youth Fire Setter Program,” according to Con Fire.
