10 Fires Break Out Near San Jose State University

SAN JOSE, CA — Nine or 10 small fires that burst out minutes apart from one another in the south half of downtown San Jose this morning are under investigation, according to a fire spokesman. From about 5:20 a.m. to 6:20 a.m. Thursday, a series of fires that were "very close together" in location exhausted the resources of five engines at one time, San Jose fire Capt. Mitch Matlow said.

As soon as firefighters arrived on scene to each one, they only took a few minutes to put out, Matlow said.

The fires occurred on the south side of San Jose State University, moving from the Interstate Highway 280 10th/11th Street off-ramp area to the college.

Three fires were reported on 10th Street, five on Seventh Street, one on Eighth Street and one on Reed Street.

The San Jose Fire Department's Arson Unit is investigating the fires to determine if they are linked and what the cause or causes could have been, Matlow said.

By Bay City News Service

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