Arsonist Attacks Hayward Home While Mother and Son Sleep

Bay City News Service — An arsonist attacked a home where a mother and her son were sleeping Monday night, according to the Hayward Fire Department.

The one-alarm fire was reported at 3:59 a.m. at a three-bedroom apartment at 29163 Dixon St. A woman and her 8-year-old son were sleeping when the mother heard glass breaking, Hayward fire spokesman LaShon Earnest said.

She went into the living room and found a fire burning and saw that there was a roughly 12-inch hole in her front window, Earnest said. When fire crews arrived, smoke and flames were coming from the apartment's windows. They opened up the roof to ventilate the blaze, and controlled the fire in six minutes, Earnest said.

Police and fire investigators determined the fire was arson after confirming that a Molotov cocktail had been thrown through the window, Earnest said. The fire caused an estimated $150,000 in damage to the building and destroyed $20,000 in contents, he said.

The blaze initially aroused suspicion because of how quickly the flames spread and the discovery that an accelerant was used, Earnest said. The case remains under investigation, he said.

No injuries were reported, and the American Red Cross was called in to help set up the displaced residents with temporary shelter.