VIDEO: Suspects mistakenly set themselves on fire after pouring gasoline onto business
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — UPDATE (01/02/23 6:00 P.M.)
Jaw-dropping video obtained by Eyewitness News shows two people wearing dark clothing, pouring what appears to be gasoline on the ground and onto the side of the building.
Just after midnight Monday, the Kern County Fire Department received calls for what they initially thought was a ground fire outside a small business on Niles Street and Camino Primavera.
But the video reveals a whole different story, as Servicio de Immigracion also known as Immigration Services, was set on fire by two suspects.
Shortly after dousing more gasoline and spraying it all over the security camera, one of the suspects then ignites the flame that would set the building on fire, but then accidentally set themselves on fire too.
It looked like a scene straight out of a movie.
They did not stop, drop and roll. instead, they're then seen running away while still on fire.
Officials said when they saw the footage, they were shocked at what led up to the fire.
Andrew Freeborn said, “Yeah the footage is quite dramatic, and we hope that uh these individuals are identified quickly”.
When Eyewitness News spoke with KCFD Captain Andrew Freeborn, he said the fire was put out in about 10 minutes.
“When firefighters arrived, they had found that the fire was located towards the rear of the structure and the garage area," said Freeborn
He said smoke got inside the building, but firefighters were able to keep flames contained to the garage area, but unfortunately, the damage was already done.
Aftermath video shows what was lost in the fire including an industrial fan burned and a ring security camera melted away.
We spoke to the owner of Servicio de Immigracion and he told eyewitness news he’s devastated and doesn’t know how to move on from something like this.
Part of his services is to also file his clients' taxes and with tax season nearing the future of the business is uncertain.
He said it saddens him that someone would want to see his 3-year-old business burn down.
As far as the suspects, it's unclear how badly they were injured.
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Arson investigators are looking for two suspects after they were seen on video pouring gasoline onto an east Bakersfield business and mistakenly setting themselves on fire Monday morning.
The Kern County Fire Department says they began receiving several reports of a fire at a business on the 2500 block of Niles street after midnight. When firefighters arrived, the found a fire in the back of the business, in a garage. Within 10 minutes, firefighters say they were able to knockdown the fire and search inside the building for possible victims.
The owner of the business involved, which is a tax and immigration service business, spoke to Eyewitness News' Leslie Valle and will have more tonight at 5 p.m. on KBAK-CBS.
Firefighters also say while on scene, they helped the owner with relocating documents to a secure area of the building.
