Teen admitted to setting Los Gatos school on fire, deputies say

UPDATE 9/1/15 3:28 a.m.: According to the Loma Prieta Joint Union School District website, both affected schools will re-open Tuesday morning at 8:20 a.m.

UPDATE 8/31/15 9:05 p.m. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office said a teen admitted to setting the fire outside Loma Prieta Elementary School Monday morning.

A 17-year-old teen and his friends went to the school to smoke marijuana but realized no one had any drugs, deputies said.

Before leaving the school, the teen placed some smoldering ashes in one of the school’s trash can, causing a fire.

The fire spread to the school’s gymnasium and nearby buildings, including the Sheriff’s Summit Service Center.

Deputies say the estimated damage is $1 million.

The case will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for review.

PREVIOUS STORY: An investigation is underway after firefighters from Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties battled a large fire at Loma Prieta Elementary School into Monday morning.

Santa Cruz County Fire officials said the fire started some time before midnight near the school’s gym.

Crews said the fire caused significant damage to the gymnasium and attached buildings, but they were able to stop the fire before it caused other damage.

Officials said the fire looks suspicious.