By Khalida Sarwari
The Silicon Valley chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting 12 residents who were displaced by one of several possible arson fires in San Jose early Sunday morning.
The residents, five adults and seven children, lived at a home in the 800 block of South 11th Street.
At about 2:15 a.m., a California Highway Patrol officer driving on Interstate Highway 280 spotted smoke coming from the home. He exited the highway and drove toward the smoke, and found a silver Dodge Durango on fire in a carport, fire Capt. Barry Stallard said.
The officer spotted two juvenile suspects nearby, but they got away, police Sgt. Ronnie Lopez said.
The fire spread from the carport to the rest of the house before firefighters contained it at about 2:45 a.m.
Red Cross volunteers responded at about 4:15 a.m. and set up the displaced residents with a three-night stay at a local hotel, food, clothing, and emotional assistance, spokeswoman Cynthia Shaw said.
Police are investigating whether the blaze was connected to two other fires that morning, including a possible arson fire reported at 1:13 a.m. in the 1700 block of Magnolia Tree Court near Fair Avenue, where someone attempted to burn two houses in a cul-de-sac, Lopez said.
At about 4:35 a.m., officers responded to the 600 block of Jennings Drive on a report of another residential fire that appeared to have been intentionally set.
Damage to both homes was minor and the occupants were not displaced or injured.