Arson likely in multiple fires at Redlands High School

REDLANDS, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities believe arson was likely behind multiple fires at Redlands High School Wednesday morning.

Firefighters responded to the district bus yard at 4:17 a.m. and found a trailer and two school buses engulfed in flames. While firefighters were busy fighting that blaze, an alarm at the Redlands High School -- adjacent to the bus yard -- went off.

Crews broke away from the initial fire to investigate, and on campus, they discovered a portable classroom on fire. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it spread to other classrooms. The blaze gutted the portable classroom, where a Spanish class meets.

The fires were quickly knocked down and no injuries were reported.

The cause of the fires remains under investigation, but officials say they were intentionally set.

"We also have evidence that somebody was trying to gain entry into several of the classrooms before they managed to gain entry into the one that was damaged," said Carl Baker, spokesman for the city of Redlands.

Investigators found signs of a break-in at the campus. It appeared someone tried to remove several screens of windows at portable classrooms.

It is spring break for the school, so no students were on campus Wednesday.

"If it is a prank it is not a very nice one. People could have been hurt," witness Debbie Diaz said.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Redlands Fire Department at (909) 798-7600.