Car Fires Stump Arson Investigators

Arson investigators are asking for the public's help in finding the person or people responsible for setting 12 vehicles on fire in Richmond and El Sobrante early Wednesday morning.

The first fire was reported at 2:44 a.m. at 3535 El Portal Drive in Richmond, where four cars had been torched, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District spokeswoman Emily Hopkins said.

The next four fires were reported in El Sobrante in unincorporated Contra Costa County at 3:31 a.m. at 4150 San Pablo Dam Rd., at 4:20 a.m. at 4410 San Pablo Dam Rd., at 4:22 a.m. at San Pablo Dam Road and Appian Way and at 4:39 a.m. at 2445 May Rd. near San Pablo Dam Road.

The sixth fire was reported at 5:02 a.m. at 2970 De Anza Drive in Richmond and the last fire was reported at 5:42 a.m. at 3402 Morningside Drive in Richmond.

The blazes were spread across a 3-mile area. Most of the vehicles were destroyed and damage is estimated to be about $120,000, Hopkins said.

Arson investigators have determined that the fires were intentionally set, but so far haven't identified any suspects or made any arrests.

Anyone with information about the fires is asked to call the fire district's arson tip line toll free at (866) 50-ARSON.