Fillmore Juvenile Previously Arrested for 2024 Arson Arrested Thursday for Fourth of July Arson at Sierra High School

FILLMORE, Calif. (KEYT) – On Thursday afternoon, a Fillmore juvenile was arrested for arson after lighting a firework that caught building materials on fire at Sierra High School on this year's Fourth of July.

On July 4, around 11:42 p.m., deputies were part of a mutual aid response to alongside the Fillmore Fire Department at Sierra High School at 615 Shiells Drive for construction material on fire stated a press release from the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

Arriving first responder spotted construction materials for the new Fillmore High School gymnasium completely engulfed in flames and once the flames were extinguished, the damage from the fire was estimated to be well over $100,000 detailed the local sheriff's office.

Detectives, patrol units, and Fillmore School Resource Deputies over the next week were able to determine the fire was started by a juvenile male from Fillmore noted the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, surveillance video captured the juvenile igniting what is believed to have been a dangerous firework just before fleeing the area on foot.

After the firework exploded next to the construction materials and equipment, the materials caught fire noted the countywide law enforcement agency.

On the afternoon of July 22, the Fillmore juvenile was contacted and arrested for violation of Penal Code 451(d)–Willful & Malicious Burning of Property and Health & Safety Code 12677–Possession of Dangerous Fireworks shared the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

He was cited and released into the care of his guardians added the sheriff's office.

The next day, detectives executed a search warrant at the juvenile's home in the 200 block of Santa Clara Avenue and located additional evidence linking him to the Sierra High arson, including illegal fireworks detailed the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

This was not the first time the juvenile has been arrested for arson in the local area shared the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

In August of 2024, the same juvenile was arrested alongside three other juveniles for an arson incident at the Fillmore Historical Museum confirmed the countywide law enforcement agency Thursday.