Suspicious fire closes two schools in Santa Cruz County

Firefighters have extinguished a fire at Loma Prieta Elementary School in Santa Clara County early Monday morning, Cal Fire reported.

Classes at both schools, which are in the small Loma Prieta Joint Union School District, were cancelled Monday.

“The 17-year-old teen from Los Gatos admitted to the incident and his mother brought him to the Los Gatos Police Department”, Kent said. It was not clear Monday evening whether the schools would reopen on Tuesday. According to authorities, the teen and his friends went to the school to smoke marijuana but when they arrived, realized no one had any of the drug. Instead, the fire spread to the school and caused significant damage to the gymnasium and attached buildings, which includes the Sheriff’s Summit Service Center.

No deputies were delegated to the substation, that has been utilized mostly to stay in contact with all the community in the region and as needed for staff to write reports, meetings with witnesses, Kent said. “It will be closed temporarily”. His name was not released because he is a minor.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information to call 831-471-1121.