Fire Investigation in Unincorporated El Cajon 

January 13, 2024 - San Diego County Sheriff’s Department officials report that the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is investigating a fire in the unincorporated area of El Cajon.

It happened on Thursday, January 11, just before 9:30 p.m. in the 400 block of E. Bradley Avenue. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department received multiple calls about a fire at an apartment complex at that location.  

Deputies from the Lakeside Sheriff's Substation along with firefighters from Heartland, San Miguel and Lakeside Fire Departments responded within minutes. When they arrived, they found a row of 14 garages on the property engulfed in flames. The garages were detached from the apartment complex. It took firefighters more than an hour to put out the fire.

Detectives from the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit were requested to investigate the cause and origin of the fire. After the fire was out, detectives identified the garage where the fire began.   

On Friday, January 12, detectives identified Mavis Williams (43) as the suspect who started the fire. They also determined Williams and several other homeless persons were living in the garage where the fire broke out. Detectives returned to the location but were unable to locate Williams.

At this time, Williams is wanted for arrest for California Penal Code Section 452 (b) Unlawfully/Recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure. She stands 5'6" tall with brown hair and brown eyes.

If you have any information on Williams' whereabouts, you can call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest in this case. Please visit www.sdcrimestoppers.org for information on how to send a web or mobile app tips.

The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is a regional resource that investigates fires involving suspicious circumstances, serious injuries and death.

Source & photos: San Diego County Sheriff’s Department