Extra

Police Investigate Suspicious Vehicle Fire Near Home of UC President

Bay City News
Thursday August 20, 2009 - 11:55:00 AM

Authorities are investigating a suspicious vehicle fire in the Oakland hills near the home of University of California President Mark Yudof early this morning, a police spokesman said today. 

The fire was reported shortly after 1:50 a.m. near 16 Woodmont Way, Oakland police spokesman Officer Jeff Thomason said. 

Alameda County sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Nelson said it appears some sort of accelerant was used in the fire, and that the Oakland Police Department's arson unit is investigating the incident. 

However, Thomason said investigators are not yet calling the fire arson because they haven't ruled out the possibility that an electrical problem caused the fire. 

Yudof lives on the same small street where the fire occurred, but authorities have not said who owns the car that burned. 

Yudof has been the target of recent protests related to tuition hikes and employee furloughs approved to offset UC's budget deficit.