Fire at UC Davis May Be Work of Animal Activists

DAVIS, Calif. — Fire badly damaged an animal diagnostic center building under construction at the University of California here early Thursday, and officials were investigating a possible connection with vandalism elsewhere on campus claimed by an animal rights group.

The fire damage was estimated at the scene at “$1 million plus” by Assistant Fire Chief Bill Greene. But Larry Navarette, arson and bomb investigator for the state fire marshal, said damage was probably closer to $2.5 million. He said about $5 million had been spent on the building that was budgeted at $8 million, and about half of the construction was destroyed.

The low-profile, warehouse-like building was owned by the state Department of Food and Agriculture, but it was to be used by UC Davis scientists for research on diseased animals.

The fire was reported at 2:59 a.m. by someone at the nearby veterinary science school who smelled smoke.

Navarette said investigators are working on the theory that the fire is connected with vandalism against parked cars.

During the night, vandals slashed tires and painted slogans on about a dozen cars parked in lots at Wickson and Kerr halls, near the center of the campus, about half a mile from the fire.

Notes signed “ALF,” presumably for Animal Liberation Front, claimed that the vandalism was “to retaliate in the name of thousands of animals tortured each year in campus labs.”