(Watsonville firefighters secure the corner of Planned Parenthood in Watsonville early Friday morning where a fire on the outside of the building caused major damage. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian)
WATSONVILLE — A fire that damaged the Planned Parenthood clinic in Watsonville early Friday morning has been deemed suspicious, Watsonville Division Chief Rob Ryan said.
Investigators from Cal Fire are reviewing footage captured on surveillance cameras.
“It does appear that there is an arson,” said Planned Parenthood Vice President of External Affairs Liz Figueroa.
Firefighters responded to the clinic at 398 South Green Valley Road at about 7 a.m. after a courier reported smelling smoke around the back of the building.
Nobody was injured.
The clinic has been temporarily closed, and employees are working in other locations. Patients have been referred to other clinics, Figueroa said.
Workers are still assessing damage to the clinic’s equipment, and Planned Parenthood officials are working with Watsonville Fire Department to determine the total cost of damage.
Figueroa said that the clinic will work to reopen as quickly as possible.
“Our thoughts are always with our staff and patients,” she said.
According to Figueroa, incidents such as vandalism have increased at Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide over the past two years.
This includes a fire that damaged a clinic in in Modesto about two years ago.
“We have an excellent security department,” Figueroa said. “We are always vigilant of anything that could happen.”
