Features

Molotov cocktails spark fire

Daily Planet Wire Service
Monday September 16, 2002

VALLEJO – Police Department reports that a house fire that sent twin 12-year-old boys to a Sacramento burn unit was started by three or four suspects who lobbed Molotov cocktails through the home's windows. 

Police Sgt. Don Hendershot said the fire set at 913 Miller St. at about 11:30 p.m. Friday may have been in retaliation for a prior confrontation between the victims' family and another group. 

The twins are now at the Shriners Hospital burn center in Sacramento, where one boy is listed in critical condition with burns on 35 percent of his body, and the other boy is being treated as an outpatient. 

Vallejo fire spokesman Bill Tweedy said the fire destroyed the family's house and arson investigators are conducting a criminal probe. A preliminary damage estimate is at $200,000. 

The firefighters called to the blaze struck a second alarm immediately after arrival upon finding a full-blown fire in the house and flames coming out of every window. 

Everyone inside the house escaped unharmed expect for the 12-year-old twins. 

Tweedy says that firefighters had the fire under control by 12:16 a.m. but stayed at the scene throughout the morning to extinguish hot spots and assist with the criminal investigation being handled by Vallejo police.