A late-night arson attack in a Columbia Avenue fourplex has Richmond neighbors staring out their windows instead of sleeping. Surveillance footage captured someone setting fire to a pickup parked in the building’s carport just before 2 AM last Friday, destroying the vehicle and sending flames close enough to threaten the roughly 18 residents who live there briefly. Tenants say the blaze rattled the whole building and left them on edge about what could come next,
Video Shows Suspect Returning With Accelerant
According to KTVU, surveillance video shows the person first walking onto the property, then leaving and coming back about 25 minutes later. On the second visit, the suspect appears to place a bottle of flammable liquid in the truck bed and toss a burning object onto it, triggering a fast-moving fire.
The owner of the truck, who asked to be identified only as “Joe,” told the station the flames wiped out his vehicle and damaged the carport. He also said a detective was not assigned to the case until the day before the KTVU story aired, a timeline that has not exactly calmed nerves around the building.
Police Shortages Could Slow The Investigation
Local reporting by Richmondside, citing a Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury report, notes that the Richmond Police Department has been operating below its authorized staffing levels, with rising overtime and morale problems. The grand jury urged the city to boost recruitment efforts and fully implement alternative response programs, ensuring that officers are not overextended.
Richmondside has also tracked City Council debates and the department’s fluctuating staffing numbers, coverage that has taken on new relevance for residents watching an arson case unfold in their own carport.
Neighbors Want Faster Action
Tenants at the Columbia Avenue fourplex told KTVU they are terrified and losing sleep after the attack. One resident said she is afraid someone might "come inside the building.”
The owner said there are multiple cameras and license-plate readers nearby and believes the culprit would have had to pass them several times. With residents anxious and a detective only recently assigned, neighbors say they want quicker follow-up and clearer communication from officials about what is being done to find the suspect.
How To Help And What Officials Ask
Anyone with information or relevant footage is asked to contact the Richmond Police Department’s non-emergency line at (510) 233-1214 or use the department’s online reporting resources. Call 911 for immediate emergencies.
The city’s police pages include crime-prevention tips and instructions for reporting incidents, according to the City of Richmond Police Department. Local leaders say the Columbia Avenue case is the latest flashpoint in an ongoing conversation about public safety and whether the city has enough officers and support programs to respond as quickly as residents expect.
