Recognize This Guy? Arsonist Sought in Fire at Banning High School

Authorities Friday released surveillance video, hoping the public will help identify a suspect who set fires inside the administration building at Banning High School, causing an estimated $100,000 in damage.

Firefighters were called by an alarm company about 1:10 a.m. Oct. 15 to a report of a fire sensor activation at the campus, located at 100 West Westward Avenue, Cal Fire Riverside spokeswoman April Newman said.

The first arriving unit found smoke showing from the administrative building and firefighters found two piles of unspecified papers burning inside, Newman said.

Investigators determined that papers had been set afire in two rooms of the administration building, triggering the overhead fire-suppression sprinklers. The sprinklers put out the fire but also caused extensive water damage, Newman said.

The blaze was contained about 1:40 a.m.

The video shows a suspect in a striped hooded jacket walking through the administration building before the fire.

Anyone with information was asked to call the department’s anonymous arson hotline at (800) 633-2836.

— City News Service.