Executive Summary
- 11 vehicles were set on fire in San Jose early Tuesday morning.
- Incidents occurred within a 90-minute window along the Highway 87 corridor.
- Total suspicious vehicle fires have reached 24 since mid-December.
- Arson investigators are coordinating with San Jose Police on the probe.
The San Jose Fire Department has launched an investigation into a series of vehicle fires that occurred early Tuesday morning, bringing the total number of suspicious incidents to 24 since mid-December. According to department officials, 11 vehicles were set ablaze between midnight and 1:30 a.m. in five distinct locations along the Highway 87 corridor.
Fire officials reported that the majority of the incidents were concentrated in the 1600 block of Almaden Road, where six vehicles were ignited at approximately 1:02 a.m. Two additional fires were reported shortly after at 1:14 a.m. on the nearby 1600 block of Almaden Expressway. Earlier incidents included single vehicle fires at North Autumn and West Julian streets, Woz Way and Almaden Boulevard, and Floyd Street and Lick Avenue.
Arson investigators are currently collaborating with the San Jose Police Department to determine if these latest incidents are directly connected to the previous fires reported over the last month. Authorities have not yet identified a suspect but are urging anyone with information regarding these events to contact the arson tip line.
Investigative Outlook
The rapid succession of fires within a 90-minute window suggests a deliberate pattern rather than isolated occurrences, raising concerns regarding public safety along the Highway 87 corridor. Law enforcement strategy will likely pivot toward analyzing surveillance footage from the affected areas and establishing a timeline to link the Tuesday incidents with the broader string of fires dating back to December. While the investigation is active, authorities continue to treat these events as arson, though no specific individuals have yet been charged.
