A century-old trolley that was intended to be part of the transformation of the historic Mutual Orange Distributors Packinghouse in Redlands was destroyed by flames early Tuesday, Dec. 1.

The trolley, which developers say dates to 1904, was to be part of a plaza outside the Redlands Public Market, a food hall and marketplace that is under construction at 330 3rd St. It was valued at $25,000, a Redlands Fire Department news release said.

The fire was reported about 4:30 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find the trolley and two power poles next to the packinghouse ablaze. Arcing power lines above the trolley made fighting the fire difficult, the release said. Redlands and Loma Linda firefighters put out the flames in 30 minutes.

Has the cause officially been determined as arson? Is it automatically a “torch job” if a “bum” lives in it?

Twenty one years ago yesterday, 6 firefighters lost their lives fighting a fire in a vacant cold storage warehouse in Worcester, Mass. The fire was started by homeless squatters using candles for light and heat. The fire got away from them and they ran. They were gone by the time the FD arrived, but no one knew that. Firefighters searched the building, became disoriented and lost. Additional firefighters went in and also became lost. More would have gone in and also died if the Chief hadn’t stood in the doorway and physically blocked them. A station was built on the site along with a memorial to the “Worcester 6”. The fire was an accident.