House Fire Displaces Resident, Arson Suspected

[Updated] A fire that displaced a 37-year-old woman at a Pasadena duplex on Friday is under investigation as possible arson, according to Pasadena Fire Dept. spokesperson Lisa Derderian.

The Pasadena Fire Department crews were called to the residential structure fire in the 200 block of North Chester Ave. at 12:14 p.m.

The arriving units found an exterior fire next to a one-story duplex unit that had extended into the dwelling, according to Derderian.

“Due to the quick and aggressive work of fire personnel, the fire was contained,” Dederian said.

The fire was knocked down at 12:27 p.m., approximately 13 minutes after the initial call. 

Pasadena Police Lt. Keith Gomez confirmed that nobody was home at the time of the fire, but the blaze caused enough damage to displace the tenant.

The displaced resident was reportedly provided temporary housing. The Red Cross offered additional assistance.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by a joint task force including investigators from the Pasadena Fire Department, San Marino Fire Department, and Pasadena Police Department. 

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241 or report information anonymously by contacting “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) via your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org