Azusa Woman Asks People to Stop Igniting Fireworks, Finds Son's Car Burned

A 66-year-old woman who asked people to stop igniting "mortar" fireworks next to her house in Azusa had her son's car burned in what appears to be an arson, sheriff's deputies said today.

A second vehicle was also damaged in the apparent revenge act, deputies said.

About 12:25 a.m. a 66-year-old woman spoke to some people who were lighting illegal "mortar" type fireworks near her home in the 18600 block of Mauna Loa Avenue to stop and told the group she would be calling the police, according to a news statement from the Sheriff's Department.

The woman began arguing with a woman who was with the group. About 45 minutes later, the 66-year-old woman discovered her son's car—a 1999 Camaro—parked in her drive way was on fire. The fire department responded to the scene and put out the car fire, according to the statement.

The Camaro was a total loss and 1997 Saturn parked nearby also sustained some heat damage at about $2,000 worth of damage.

"Based on the fact the Camaro had not been driven for two days, and because of evidence at the scene, fire department officials suspect that the fire was intentionally started," according to the news statement. "The Arson/Explosive Detail of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department was notified and will continue the investigation of the case."

The woman that the 66-year-old woman had the argument was described as a 5-foot, 10-inch tall female weighing about 150 pounds.

Sheriff's dispatch records indicated that the victim did not call to report the fireworks or the argument. Another caller reported illegal fireworks about one and a half blocks away at about 12:53 a.m. A deputy arrived at about 12:57 a.m., but did not locate any suspicious persons or illegal activity. The fire was reported at 1:12 a.m.

Dispatch records also indicated that deputies assigned to the sheriff's San Dimas station responded to 96 calls of fireworks-related disturbances in the period between noon on Friday until 2:10 a.m. on July 5.

Sheriff's detectives asked anyone with any information regarding the suspicious car fire to call them at (909) 450-2700.

—City News Service