Crime & Safety
Teens Charged in Juvenile Court for Millbrae Community Center Fire
DA says the boys will not be charged as adults, as it appears the fire was not intentionally set.
MILLBRAE, CA – Two teens suspected of setting fire to the Millbrae Community Center last week, destroying the building and causing up to $2 million in damage, have been charged in juvenile court, prosecutors said.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Tuesday that the two boys, 16- and 17-year-old Millbrae residents, will not be charged as adults because there was no evidence that they intentionally set
the fire.
Because of laws protecting juvenile defendants, he said he couldn't provide any more information about the case.
Find out what's happening in Millbraefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The fire started just before 4 a.m. last Thursday along an exterior wall of the center at 477 Lincoln Circle.
The building's roof collapsed as firefighters struggled to extinguish the blaze. The fire was finally put out by about 8:15 a.m., according to the Central County Fire Department.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was called in to assist with the investigation, which led to the two juveniles' arrest on Friday.
Find out what's happening in Millbraefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
San Mateo County sheriff's Detective Sal Zuno said that the boys confessed to starting the fire, but he also said it appeared they did not mean to burn the building down. The fire was started due to negligence, he
said.
Children in a summer camp that was being held at the center have been relocated to nearby Taylor Middle School and the city is working on plans for what to do with other programs held there.
The San Jose-based real estate investment firm Republic Family of Companies announced today that it was contributing $30,000 to pay for the resources necessary to keep those programs going.
"Understanding just how valuable the Millbrae Community Center has been to local residents, I knew that as a company there was something we needed to do to help those directly impacted by the loss of the center,"
Republic CEO Michael Van Every said.
Anyone with information about the fire is encouraged to call sheriff's Detective Pat Carey at (650) 259-2321 or email pcarey@smcgov.org.
People wishing to remain anonymous can call a tip line at (800) 547-2700.
– By Bay City News Service. (Image via San Mateo County Sheriff's Office videoon Facebook)