Someone broke into Gardner Bullis Elementary School early June 15, vandalized campus buildings and set multiple fires – including one that burned a eucalyptus tree on the hillside above the school – prompting a joint investigation by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and Santa Clara County Fire Department.
The Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred between 3 a.m. and 5:22 a.m., when “unknown suspect(s) entered a classroom … by breaking a glass door.” Authorities said the suspects vandalized multiple areas of campus, leaving broken glass across exterior walkways and damaging walls and floors before setting fire to walls, trash cans and the hillside tree.
No students or staff were injured because the incidents happened outside regular school hours, Principal Kate Schermerhorn said in an email to families and in follow-up statements to the Town Crier.
According to the Santa Clara County Fire Department, firefighters responded at approximately 9:30 a.m. to a report of a vegetation fire in the field behind the campus. Engine 75 arrived to find an approximately 10-foot-by-20-foot grass fire in the school’s upper lot with no structures threatened and a slow rate of spread. Two school employees were already attempting to extinguish the blaze with fire extinguishers.
Firefighters extinguished the remaining fire, cut a hand line around the perimeter and completed mop-up operations to ensure the fire was fully out.
The Fire Department determined the blaze was intentionally set with an open flame and classified the cause as arson. The incident remains under investigation by the Santa Clara County Fire Department in partnership with the Los Altos School District and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. The Santa Clara County Fire Department has determined the vegetation fire was intentionally set and is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Tips can be submitted by calling (888) 341-4401.
