UPDATE:

The fire that tore through a vehicle storage bay at Crescenta Valley Tow is “being investigated as arson at this time,” said Sgt. Joseph Acevedo, Arson and Explosive Detail.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. John Hanson, (323) 881-7500.

By Mary O’KEEFE

About 1:40 a.m. today, Monday, a field sergeant from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Dept. drove by CV Tow in the 4400 block of Cloud Avenue in La Crescenta and noticed smoke coming from the direction of the vehicle holding lot on the property. L.A. County Fire Dept. was notified. Firefighters discovered fire in the vehicle holding lot and extinguished it.
“There appeared to be a fire accelerant on one of the vehicles,” said Sgt. Randy Tuinstra of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept.-CV Sheriff’s Station.
Two additional cars were burned as were two motorcycles. There were no injuries. Fire damaged one of the walls of the building. Estimated total damage cost is about $450,000. The LASD Arson Unit was called in; the investigation is ongoing.
“We’ve been in business 53 years and never had anything like this before,” said Sue Present, owner of CV Tow. “We’re thankful no one was hurt.”