Glendale Wood Pallet Fire Police Report

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PS561 UENDALE POLICE DEPARTL~NTOFFENSE REPORT

01106/2010 11:31Page 2

Report No: 1Q 001540 Type: OR DatelTime: 01104/2010 1938 Ofcr#: 01418 WELLS, DENVER

REPORT TITLE: UNDETERMINED FIRE

Reporting Officer: WELLS,DENVER #1418

Location: 5626 W BETH.AN1 HOME RDDate & Time Occurred from: 01104/2010 1938

Apt/Suite:to: 01104/2010 1938 Grid: CA1S

Associated Report No.(s): 10-3808 GFD, AZ

Total Property Taken: $0.00 Recovered: $0.00

Case Status: INFORMATION ONLY REPORTDamaged: $0.00

VICTIM(S) INFORMATIONVictim 1 :

WESTERN PALLETS5626 W BETHANY HOME RDGLENDALE AZ 85301

Alias:AfS#:

Emai1:

Race: Height :Sex: Weight :Age: Max Age:

Hair :Eyes:SSN:

DOB:POB:DL#:

Home Ph:Cell Ph:

Other Ph:

VICTIM(S) INFORMATIONVictim 2 :

CARRANZA,EDUARDO Alias:AJS#:

Home Ph:CellPh: •• __

Other Ph:

Race: SSex: MAge: 33

Hair: BRaEyes: aROSSN:

-DOB:_----

·POB:DL#:

VICTIM(S) INFORMATIONVictim 3 :

BUKSIC,MrCHAEL Alias:

Emai1:

neight : 509Weight : 170Max Age:

Employer: WESTERN PALLETSAddress: 5626 W. BETHANY HOME RD GLENDALE AZ 85301

Occupation: OWNhR . Work Ph: Ext:

AfS#:

Email:

Race: WSex: MAge: 58

Home Ph:Cell Ph:

Other Ph:

Hair :Eyes:SSN:

DOB: _

. POB:DL#:

Height :Weight :Max Age:

Employer: SELFAddress: 5626 W. BETHANY HOME RD GLENDALE AZ 85301

Occupation: LAND OWNER Work Ph: Ext:

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PS561 L.2ENDALE POLICE DEPARTt..2NTOFFENSE REPORT

001540 Type: OR Date/Time. 01104/2010 1938 OCcd: 01418 WELLS,DENVER

01/06/2010 11:31Page 3

Report No: ..!Q

WITNESS(ES) AND/OR OTHERS INVOLVEDWitness 1 :

VILLANUEV A,LAURO Alias: Home Ph:

AlS#: 270 Cell Ph:Other Ph:

Email:'.

Race: S Height : Hair: DOB:.Sex: M Weight : Eyes: POB:Age: 30 Max Age: SSN: DL#:

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Employer: . , !Address: -

Occupation: Work Ph: Ext:

WITNESS(ES) AND/OR OTHERS INVOLVEDWitness 2 :

CAP,ESTEBAN Alias: Home Ph:AlS#: Cell Ph:

Other Ph:Email:

Race: S Height Hair: DOB::Sex: M Weight : Eyes: POB:Age: 38 Max Age: SSN: DL#:

Employer:Address:

Occupation: Work Ph: Ext:

WITNESS(ES) AND/OR OTHERS INVOLVEDWitness 3 :

AVILLA,JOSE Alias: Home Ph:AlS#: Cell Ph:

Other Ph:Email:

Race: S Height : Hair: DOB: 7Sex: M Weight : Eyes: POB:Age: 29 Max Age: SSN: nL#:

6~Ofl'.Employer:Address: .-

Occupation: - Work Ph:

SYNOPSISPALLET FIRE EXTENDING TO AUTO BODY YARD.

SEE NARRATIVE.INARRATIVE

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PSS61 \,.lENDALE POLICE DEPARTi~_.6NT 01/06/2010 11:31OFFENSE REPORT Page 4

Report No:..!Q 001540 Type: OR Date/Timer 01104/2010 1938 Ofcr#: 01418 WELLS,DENVER

101540 D. WELLS 1418

ON 114/2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 1957 HRS, I WAS PAGED BY THE PHOENIX FIREDEPARTMENT ALARM ROOM ADVISING ME OF A WORKING 2-ALARM FIRE AT 5626 W.BETHANY HOME RD: BY THE TIME I ARRNED AT APPROXIMATELY 2020 HRS, THE FIREWAS UPGRADED TO A 4-ALARM FIRE.5626 W. BETHANY HOME RD IS AN ADDRESS THAT HOUSES SEVERAL BUSINESSES ONVARYING SIZED LOTS. THE BUSINESSES BEGIN ADJACENT TO W. BETHANY HOME RD,AND CONTINUE NORTH ON 57 TH AVE. THE FIRE WAS BEING WORKED IN "WESTERNPALLETS" WHICH ALTHOUGH NOT ADDRESSED AS SUCH, WOULD APPEAR TO BE #8.5626 W. BETHANY HOME RD IS AN APPROXlMATELY 1 ACRE FENCED LOT. THERE ARENO ENCLOSED STRUCTURES ON THE LOT, BUT HAD AN APPROXIMATELY 20' X 20'COVERED AWNING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY NEAR THE MIDDLE."WESTERN PALLETS" IS A PALLET REBUILDING BUSINESS AND THERE ARE THOUSANDSOF PALLETS STACKED ON THE LOT. THE MAJORITY OF PALLETS WERE STORED IN THESIB AREA, EAST END, AND THE NORTH FENCE LINES.WHEN I ARRNED ON SCENE, NUMEROUS FIRE CREWS FROM GLENDALE, PHOENIX ANDPEORIA WERE ON SCENE AND FIGHTING THE FIRE WITH AERIAL LINES, STANG GUNS,AND GROUND LINES. THE FIRE HAD ALSO EXTENDED INTO A BODY SHOP LOT THAT ISON THE OTHER SIDE OF ras SOUTH CHAIN-LINK FENCE TOWARD THEEAST SIDE.I SPOKE TO THE OWNER OF "WESTERN PALLETS"; EDUARDO CARRANZA, WHO SAID TJfATHE AND HIS WORKERS, HAD LEFT THE BUSINESS AT ABOUT 1900 HRS. I ASKED ABOUTTHEIR ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO CLOSING. HE SAID THAT THEY HAD UNLOADED PALLETSFROM AN ENCLOSED SEMI-TRAILER, AND PRIOR TO THAT THEY WERE USING THE NAILCUTTER TO BREAK UP PALLETS. I ASKED WHAT THE NAIL CUTTER ACTUALLY DOES .EDUARDO SAID THAT A BLADE IS GUIDING BETWEEN THE BOARDS OF THE PALLETS ANDCUTS THE NAILS. rms WAY THE SERVICEABLE BOARDS WON'T GET DAMAGED AND CANBE USED TO REBUlLD OTHER PALLETS. I ADVISED EDUARDO THAT THIS SOUNDED LIKESOMETHING THAT WOULD CREATE SPARKS. EDUARDO SAID THAT IT DOESN'T CREATESPARKS, BUT ADDED THAT THEY WET DOWN THE AREA AFTER EVERY USE. I MENTIONEDTHAT THEY HAD A PREVIOUS FIRE AT ANOTHER LOCATION CAUSED BY A NAIL CUTTER.EDUARDO SAID TH.:\T IS WHY rt..IEY WET DOWN THE AREA NOW AJID THAT THEY HA VBLEARNED THEIR LESSON. HE ALSO SAID THAT THEY HAD STOPPED USING THE CUTTERAT ABOUT 1630 HRS.I ALSO SPOKE TO EMPLOYEES OF "DISCOUNT AUTO REPAIR" WHICH IS IN LOT #4.OWNER RUBEN JIMENEZ SAID THAT HE WAS GETTING READY TO CLOSE HIS SHOP ANDWAS WITH HIS WIFE VALERIE, AND EMPLOYEE; LAURO VILLANUEVA. HE SAID THATSOMEONE FROM A NEIGHBORING BUSINESS RAN OVER AND TOLD LAURO THAT THERE WASA FIRE TWO BUSINESSES DOWN, AND THAT THEY SHOULD GET OUT. HE SAID THAT ATTHAT TIME HE COULD SEE FLAMES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AREA OF #8. (FROM HIS~~~sis~SOUTHERN AREA OF #8 WOULD BE BLOCKED BY STRUCTURES OF OTHE,R , rtl~~t1I THEN SPOKE TO LAURO VILLANUEVA WHO SAID THAT ONE OF THE WORKERS FRO~ t'u ~GATE COMPANY ACROSS THE STREET CAME OVER AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THE FIRE,~ ,TOLD HIM THAT HE SHOULD GET OUT AND CALL 9-1-1, WInCH HE DID.I THEN SPOKE TO ESTEBAN CAP AT "GATES BY ROY" AT 6022 N. 57TH AVB. MR. CAP

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PS561 UENDALE POLICE DEPARTL.:.lNT 01106/2010 11:31OFFENSE REPORT Page 5

Report No: .1Q 001540 Type: OR Date/Time: 01104/2010 1938 Ofcr#: 01418 WELLS,DENVER

SAID THAT HE SAW SMOKE RISING FROM THE SIB AREA OF "WESTERN PALLETS". HESAID THAT BY THE TIME HE STARTED TO CROSS THE STREET, HE COULD SEE TALLFLAMES. HE SAID THAT HE RAN TO "DISCOUNT AUTO REPAIR" AND YELLED TO ONE OFTHE WORKERS THAT THERE WAS A FIRE AND TO CALL 9-1-1.I SPOKE TO PEORIA FD CAPT. CROWLEY WHOSE E-925 WAS THE FIRST FIRE UNIT ONTHE SCENE. HE APPROACHED FROM THE NORTH ON N. 57TH AVB AND SAID THAT WHENTHEY ARRIVED THE ENTIRE EASTERN HALF OF THE LOT WAS ON FIRE. CAPT. E.ECKERT OF E-152 WHOSE CREW ARRIVED FROM THE SOUTH SECONDS AFTER E-925REPORTED THE SAME.AS OF 2400 HRS, FIRE UNITS WERE STILL WETIING DOWN THE SCENE AND EXPECTEDTO BE DOING SO FOR THE NEXT ONE TO TWO HOURS. I ASKED THE BUSINESS OWNER;MR. CARRANZA IF I HAD HIS PERMISSION TO SEC'URETHE SCENE AND CONTINUE MYINVESTIGATION IN THE MORNING. HE ANSWERED, "YES." I THEN REQUESTED VIASGT. A. BROWN OF THE GLENDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE SCENE SECURITYUNTIL MY RETURN IN THE MORNING, TO WHICH HE AGREED.I RETURNED AT 0530 HRS ON 115/2010AND RELIEVED THE OFFICER POSTED AT THEBUSINESS OF HIS DUTIES.ONCE THERE WAS DAYLIGHT, I TOOK PHOTOS OF THE SCENE. AT THAT TIME I ALSOOBSERVED THAT NO LESS THAN 35 VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED ON BOTH"WESTERN PALLETS" PROPERTY, AND "CHAVEZ BODY SHOP" WHICH IS SOUTH OF THESIB AREA OF THE PROPERTY. THESE VEHICLES APPEARED TO BE IN VARIOUS STATESOF MECHANICAL CONDITION, FROM COMPLETELY NON.FUNCTIONING, TO SERVICEABLE.I NOTICED TWO FORKLIFTS ON THE PALLET PROPERTY; BOTH IN THE MIDDLE OF THELOT; ONE IN THE SOUTH AREA AND ONE IN THE NORTH AREA BEHIND A FLATBED SEMITRUCK LOADED WITH PALLETS. THEY WERE BOTH PROPANE POWERED. THE 10 GALLONTANK ON THE NORTH FORKLIFT HAD A BLEVE DUE TO THE HEAT.I HAD OWNER EDUARDO CARRANZA AND AN EMPLOYEE WALK WITH ME THROUGH THEPROPERTY. THROUGH THAT, I LEARNED THAT THE ONLY EQUIPMENT THAT OPERATES ONTHE PROPERTY IS THE NAIL CUTTER THAT OPERATES OFF OF 220V. THERE IS ALSOAN AIR TANK. THAT IS USED TO SUPPLY COMPRESSED AIR TO THEIR PNEUMATIC NAILGUNS. BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ARE MOUNTED ABOUT 2/3RDS EAST OF THE WESTPROPERTY LINE. THE AlR TANK IS SITUATED VERY CLOSE, IF NOT AGAINST 'TIlESOUTH FENCE AND THE NAIL CUTIER IS ABOUT 10' NORTH OF THE FENCE LINE.THERE HAD BEEN PALLETS STACKED ABOUT 5-10' EAST OF THE CUTIER.MR. CARRANZA WAS ADAMANT THAT THE NAIL CUTIER WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FIREAND TOLD ME THAT THE BODY SHOP EMPLOYEES WORK LATE AND DO WELDING. HE ALSOADVISED ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVB A BUSINESS LICENSE. I EXPLAINED TO MR.CARRANZA THAT MANY TIMES SPARKS CAN CAUSE SMOLDERING IN HIDDEN LOCATIONSAND CAN GO UNNOTICED FOR HOURS. MR. CARRANZA SAID THAT BEFORE THEY LEFTFOR TIlE DAY, THEY TURNED OFF THE WATER SUPPLY WHICH IS CLOSE TO THE CUTI:~ r,AND THEY DID NOT SMELL SMOKE.· \.;I WAS APPROACHED BY THE LAND OWNER; MIKE BUKSIC, WHO SAID THAT THERE ISAUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP TWO BUSINESSES SOUTH OF THE EASTERN HALF OF "WESTERN .PALLETS" WHO TOLD HIM THAT HE SAW THE FIRE IN rrs EARLY STAGES.I SPOKE TO JOSE AVILLA WHO SAID THAT HE WAS WORKING IN THE AUTO MECHANICSHOP WHEN HE SAW THE FIRE. HE SAID THAT NO ONE WAS WORKING AT THE BODY

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PS561 l~ENDALE POLICE DEPARTk.,-hNT 01106/2010 11:31OFFENSE REPORT Page 6

001540 Type: OR Date/Time: 01104/2010 1938 Ofcr#:01418 WELLS,DENVERReport No: ..!Q

101540 D. WELLS 1418

SHOP THAT'S SITUATED BETWEEN HIS SHOP AND THE PALLETS. HE SAID THAT HEWENT THROUGH THE BODY SHOP PROPERTY IN ORDER TO GET CLOSER TO SEE WHAT WASGOING ON AND SAW THE PALLETS BURNING IN THE "WESTERN PALLETS" LOT. I HADMR. AVILLA SHOW ME WHERE THE FIRE WAS AT THAT TIME. HE INDICATED THE AREAABOUT 8-10 FEET EAST OF THE NAIL CUTTER. HE SAID THAT THE FIRE WAS ABOUT5' HIGH AND ABOUT 5' IN DIAMETER AT THAT TIME. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE FIREGREW RAPIDLY AND EVENlUALLY THE HIGH PILED PALLETS FELL TO THE SOUTHLANDING PRIMARILY ON A NISSAN TITAN PICKUP TRUCK THAT WAS PARKED IN THEBODY SHOP LOT NEAR THE DIVIDING FENCE LINE. (I NOTICED THAT THE ROOF ANDHOOD OF THE PICKUP WERE HEAVILY DENTED.) JOSE SAID THAT AT THIS POINT, THEBURNING PALLETS WERE ALSO CAUSING FIRE TO SPREAD TO OTHER VEHICLES IN THEBODY SHOP LOT.I AM INCLUDING AN EARLIER AERIAL PHOTO OF THE PROpERTY AND INDICATINGRELEVANT LOCATIONS.MR. CARRANZA ADVISED ME THAT HIS BUSINESS IS NOT INSURED. I RELEASED THEPROPERTY BACK TO MR. CARRANZA.BASED ON THE EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE AND WITNESSES STATEMENTS I AMCATEGORIZING THIS FIRE AS UNDETERMINED. IT IS MY OPINION THOUGH, THATTHERE IS A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY SPARKS FROMTHE NAIL CUTTER WHICH CAUSED THE SMOLDERING OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERlALS WITHINTHE PALLET STACKS, AND EVENTUALLY IGNITED.

Victims Assistance: SUGGEST NO CONTACTPrints Attemped: NO Prints Obtained: NOSupervisor Approving Report :

C.S.T. N

CRIMINAL OFFENSE(S)Offense 1: NOT A UCR CRIME OR NOT IN JURISDICTION Code: 000

Victim: Suspect:

STATISTICAL INFOR..l\1ATIONTYPE OF VICTIM(S):

V 1 INDIVIDUALV2 INDIVIDUALV3 INDIVIDUAL

CASE DECISION REPORT:TOTAL

NO REVIEW REGARDLESS OF TOTAL FLAG

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PS561

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~ENDALE POLICE DEPARTL....lNT 01106/2010 11:31SUPPLEMENTARY Page 7

001540 Type: SU Date/Time: 01/04/2010 1938 Ofcr#: 11260 TORRES,JAMESReport No: J.Q

REPORT TITLE: ARSON

Reporting Officer: TORRES,JAMES #11260

Location: 5626 W BETHANY HOME RDDate & Time Occurred from: 01104/2010 1938

Apt/Suite:

to: 01104/2010 1938 Grid: CA15

Associated Report No.(s):

Total Property Taken: $0.00 Recovered: $0.00

Case Status: INVESTIGATION CONTINUED

Damaged: $0.00

WITNESS(ES) AND/OR OTHERS INVOLVEDPerson Reporting 1:

ANDERSON,CHAD Alias:

AlS#:HomePh: •••••••••••

Cell Ph:Other Ph:

Email:

Race: WSex: MAge: 33

Height : 507Weight : 160Max Age:

Hair: BROEyes: BLUSSN: _

DOB: _

POB:DL#:

Employer: -:::::::.. ••Address: 4

Occupation: Work Ph: Ext:

NARRATIVE10-1540J. TORRES #11260ARSON INVESTIGATIONSUPPLEMENT REPORT

ON 01104/2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 1938 HOURS, I RESPONDED TO 5650NORTH 55TH AVENUE IN REFERENCE TO A IN PROGRESS FIRE

WHILE ON SCENE, I SPOKE WITH (PRl) CHAD ANDERSON. IT WASEXPLAINED THAT CHAD IS A BUSINESS OWNER AT 5746 WEST BETHANY HOMEAT A BUSINESS NAMED THE MENTAL ASYLUM. CHAD WANTED TO EXPRESS ACONCERN IN REGARDS TO THE BUSINESS NEXT DOOR THAT HE DESCRIBED ASBEING DIRECTLY TO THE EAST OF illS LOCATION.

IN THE PAST, CHAD ADVISED HE HAD CONTACTED CODE COMPLIANCE AFTERHE LEARNED THAT THE BUSINESS OWNERS WERE STACKING PALLETS AGAINSTHIS PAlNT BOOTHS AND HAD FELT THAT THEIR ACTIONS WERE CAUSING ANUNSAFE ENVIRONMENT SINCE THE PALETTES WERE CONSTRUCTED OF A WOODMATERIAL.

IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT CHAD HAD BEEN VISITED BY CODE COMPLIANCE INTHE PAST AND HAD PAST THE REQUIREMENTS AND AT THAT TIME HE ADVISEDTHE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS THAT THE BUSINESS HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT .:

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PS561 L-LENDALE POLICE DEPARTk.lNTSUPPLEMENTARY

0110612010 11:31Page 8

Report No: J.Q 001540 Type: SU Date/Time: 01104/2010 1938 Ofcr#: 11260 TORRES,JAMES

WAS INVOLVED WITH VIOLATIONS. CHAD WAS NOT AWARE IF HIS CONCERNSHAD BEEN ADDRESSED .

HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE BUSINESS DIRECTLY TO THE NORTH WAS ZONEDFOR A MECHANICS SHOP AS THEY WERE ILLEGALLY PAINTING VEHICLES ATTHE MENTIONED LOCATION. DURING THE INTERVIEW, CHAD WAS NOT ABLETO PROVIDE AN ADDRESS OR THE OWNERS NAMES AT THE INVOLVEDLOCATIONS.

AFTER RECEIVING CHAD'S INFORMATION, I CONTACTED DENVER WELLS INREGARDS TO HIS INITIAL INVESTIGATION AND I WAS ADVISED TO COMPLETEA SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT WITH THE INFORMATION CHAD HAD PROVIDED.

DURING THE INTERVIEW, CHAD DID NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION TOASSIST WITH THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION.

THIS CONCLUDES MY INVOLVEMENT IN THIS MATTER.

BS/13801

**** END OF REPORT ****

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