A series of small fires at Ventura College were set by an unknown arsonist on Tuesday, Jan. 12. A total of six small fires were reported, according to District Chief of Police Richard DeLaO.

The first fire was reported at about 1:40 p.m. in room UV-2. Ventura city firefighters arrived on the scene to find the flames extinguished by a staff member. Within 40 minutes, numerous fires had burst at the east end campus, according to DeLaO.

“One fire was in room 229 of the science and math building in the drawer of a wooden desk,” he said. “Fortunately the flames were confined to one drawer.”

Other fires sprouted in trashcans in the men’s and women’s restrooms in the lower level of the same building. Fires were also reported on the second floor outside of the men’s and women’s restrooms.

“There is a person of interest,” said DeLaO of the unknown arsonist. “Witnesses described an individual seen with a large amount of paper towels.”

Paper towels were found in the drawers and trashcans of the fires.

There were no reported injuries and no property damage done, according to DeLaO.

“We have yet to see the cost of the damages,” he said, “but I don’t believe they’ll reach the thousands. We did see the trashcans slightly melting, but overall there was no real damage.”

The Ventura College Campus Police are currently working with the fire and police departments and district attorney to investigate the crimes. Chief DeLaO requests any witnesses to contact Sgt. Cesar Romero at (805) 642-7000.