CHP probes string of fires along I-680

The California Highway Patrol is investigating a series of fires along southbound Interstate Highway 680 in San Jose over the weekend.

According to CHP Officer Ross Lee, around 10 to 12 fires were reported on a 0.7-mile stretch of the highway between the Capitol Expressway and Montague Expressway interchanges.

“In the manner in which the fires were set, it does appear initially to be intentional,” Lee said. “It isn’t something that we have confirmed yet.” Lee said another fire was reported along the same stretch of highway on Sunday night. San Jose police and San Jose fire crews were able to extinguish all of the blazes in less than an hour.

The fires appeared to have been evenly plotted and not the result of a collision or a vehicle overheating, Lee said. The first blaze was located on the Capitol Expressway Highway 680 southbound on-ramp and went north to the Montague Expressway.

Witnesses have reported seeing a man with a torch, possibly walking or on a bike, but nothing to give a definitive description of a suspect, Lee said.