News briefs: Fire consumes Woodside barn News briefs: Fire consumes Woodside barn (January 11, 2006)

An early morning fire completely destroyed a barn in the 100 block of Marva Oaks Drive on the northern edge of Woodside early on the rainy morning of Monday, January 2.

The 1,500-square-foot barn, owned by Allen Lucas and unoccupied at the time of the fire, represents a loss of $45,000 in structural damages and $5,000 in contents, which included baled hay, saddles and woodworking equipment, said Battalion Chief Rick Lombardo of the Woodside Fire Protection District. No one was injured.

Firefighters received the first 911 call at about 4:30 a.m. and arrived to see the barn fully engulfed in flames, said Mr. Lombardo. With 600 feet separating the barn from the road, the firefighters had to hand-lay hose down a hill through the rain and mud and dark, he said.

The fire, which took about 45 minutes to put out, may have started near the center of the barn, but the cause is unknown and is likely to remain so. Some fires are just mysterious as to how they start, said Mr. Lombardo.
Man arrested after firing shots in air

A Hayward man visiting Menlo Park may have picked up lesson on how not to celebrate a holiday after a Menlo Park police officer saw him fire his gun skyward in the predawn air of New Year's Day outside an apartment complex at 1181 Willow Road.

Ramon Aguilar, 28, of Hayward was arrested and taken to San Mateo County jail on felony charges that included the illegal discharge of a firearm. No one was injured in the incident, police said.

At about 5 a.m. January 1, Officer Kevin Paugh discovered a man outside shooting a gun into the air. Mr. Paugh, who got out of his patrol car and drew his own gun, ordered the man to stop shooting and remain where he was, police said. The man did stop shooting but turned around and walked into an apartment, police said.

Officers from Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Atherton and Palo Alto surrounded the apartment and, in English and Spanish, ordered the occupants to come out with their hands up, which they did after about five minutes, police said. Four men, one woman and two children emerged.

A search of the apartment turned up a .25-caliber automatic handgun; shell casings from that gun were found inside and outside the apartment.

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