# Massive library fire in California was arson and building had no sprinklers

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-library-fire-in-california-was-arson-and-building-had-no-sprinklers/848196>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [February 19, 2020, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-library-fire-in-california-was-arson-and-building-had-no-sprinklers/848196 "2020-02-19T22:20:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-library-fire-in-california-was-arson-and-building-had-no-sprinklers/848196/1 "2020-02-19T22:20:07Z")

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[Two firefighters dead](https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/article240426611.html); [two 13-year-olds are in custody on at least two charges: manslaughter and arson](https://abc30.com/1-firefighter-killed-1-missing-while-fighting-fire-at-porterville-library/5947494/).

Some 50 firefighters responded to the blaze in the 67-year-old two-story building in Porterville, about halfway between Bakersfield and Fresno. I hope they throw the book at these young idiots.

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**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-library-fire-in-california-was-arson-and-building-had-no-sprinklers/848196/2 "2020-02-19T22:49:23Z")

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> [@Skywatcher](#):
>
> [URL=“[https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/article240426611.html](https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/article240426611.html)”]I hope they throw the book at these young idiots.

They can’t–it burned.

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**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-library-fire-in-california-was-arson-and-building-had-no-sprinklers/848196/3 "2020-02-19T22:57:09Z")

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[Resident Cecelia Nunes Martinez told Action News she hoped the city would rebuild the library and that this won’t be its final chapter.](https://abc30.com/deadly-porterville-fire-officials-say-library-had-no-sprinkler-system/5948476/)

A new library was overdue.

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**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-library-fire-in-california-was-arson-and-building-had-no-sprinklers/848196/4 "2020-02-20T16:30:28Z")

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[Bad day for libraries](https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/2020/02/19/sv-chief-library-guard-told-stabbing-suspect-turn-down-music/4806671002/)

> [@](#):
>
> Blanchard Glaudin fatally stabbed Finkelstein Memorial Library security guard Sandra Wilson after she told him to turn down the music he was playing on his phone, the village police chief said.