Mystery Fire Explodes As Mill Valley Officer Tries To Put It Out: Police

MILL VALLEY, CA — A Mill Valley police officer was injured when an object exploded as the they tried to extinguish a fire in a church parking lot Sunday night, authorities said.

An officer responded around 9 p.m. to a report of a possible fire in the 200 block of Camino Alto and found a small blaze burning on a paved section of the parking lot at the First Church of Christ, Scientist, at 279 Camino Alto, officials said.

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As an officer tried to put out the flames, an object in the fire exploded, causing moderate injuries, police said. The officer's efforts helped keep the fire from reaching a nearby hillside, authorities said.

Fire investigators later determined that the object contained multiple combustible items, including aerosol containers, according to police.

Investigators were working to determine who was responsible for the incident. Police said the evidence available so far did not indicate that the fire was directed at the church or any other faith-based organization.

Mill Valley police asked nearby residents to review surveillance footage for suspicious activity that could help investigators.

Anyone with information or video footage was asked to contact Detective Sgt. David Kollerer at dkollerer@cityofmillvalley.gov. Anonymous information can be provided at 415-721-4547.

The investigation remains ongoing.