Arsonist sets two dumpster fires minutes apart from each other early Saturday morning

On Saturday, November 12th, 2022, at 12:00 am, the Turlock Fire Department was dispatched to a reported dumpster fire at Round Table Pizza, 2650 Geer Rd, Turlock.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they found a quarter-full dumpster with its contents fully involved, not threatening anything.

Firefighters immediately began fire attack and were able to put the fire out within about five minutes.

Just a few minutes later, at 12:10 am, the Turlock Fire Department was dispatched to another reported dumpster fire, this one at Ross Dress For Less, 2405 Geer Rd.

Firefighters arrived on scene to find a half-full dumpster with its contents fully involved threatening a tree above it.

Firefighters immediately began fire attack and were able to put this fire out within about 15 minutes.

No injuries were reported as a result of either of the two fires.

Both fires are believed to be intentionally set by the same person. For over two years now, there have been random fires set within close proximity and time to each other once or twice a month, however, no one has been arrested as a result of them to date.

The Turlock Police Department responded and investigated the fires.

The investigation remains on-going. Anyone with information that could assist in the investigation is encouraged to call Officer Marco Diaz at 209-668-1200.