Orange police have arrested three girls, ages 12, 13, and 14, for arson in connection with four fires, including two historic houses that were destroyed. A smaller house was set on fire twice. The houses were vacant. Detective Captain Cliff Hargrave said a juvenile boy is also being sought. Their names will not be made public because of juvenile laws. He said charges of arson, a second degree felony, will be filed on the juveniles through the Orange County Juvenile Probation Department and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
The first fire was reported Monday, June 29, at 12:29 a.m. at 902 Sholars Avenue. Then at 4:42 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, a fire was reported at 612 Cypress Avenue. The 102-year-old wood-frame was destroyed. Then at 10:12 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, another fire was reported at 902 Sholars Avenue. While firefighters were there, a 90-year-old house at 1207 Park Avenue was reported to be on fire 12 minutes later. The house had in later years been a homeless house and a halfway house. Another non-profit group was buying the house. All that was left was the chimney.
Two of the girls, ages 12 and 14, were taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after Police Detective T. Hilyar and Fire Marshal John Bilbo questioned them at an apartment in the 600 block of Burton Avenue. The 13-year-old girl was taken into custody on Thursday.
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