Suspicious fires char closed middle school

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District is investigating five suspicious fires at a closed middle school in unincorporated Richmond this week, according to fire officials.

A report of a structure fire at Adams Middle School at 5000 Patterson Circle came in around 11:05 p.m. Tuesday, fire officials said.

Fire crews arrived to find light smoke coming from the school and contained four separate fires burning throughout the main building on campus.

Facility and security personnel with the West Contra Costa Unified School District were at the school to help firefighters enter the building and control the sprinkler system, fire officials said.

Firefighters then extinguished a fifth fire at the school on Wednesday morning, according to fire officials.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the Richmond, Pinole and El Cerrito fire departments also responded to the fire.

— Jamey Padojino, Bay City News