EARLY MORNING TWENTYNINE PALMS FIRE CALLED “SUSPICIOUS”

A long-time vacant building in Twentynine Palms caught on fire early this morning, and the circumstances are called “suspicious.” Twentynine Palms Fire Chief Jim Thompson said at 1:45 a.m., a passerby reported the blaze in the 6900 block of Adobe Road to firefighters—who were outside the station due to the earlier earthquake. The building—which is behind Theatre 29—has been vacant for years and is boarded up and has no utilities. Chief Thompson said the 10 firefighters from Twentynine Palms and the Combat Center had the fire under control in about 15 minutes. The fire was mostly contained to the interior; the building’s walls and roof are still up. The cause is under investigation.