Investigators with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have classified Monday night's fires in Baltimore – including a blaze that destroyed a senior apartment complex – as arson, and are seeking help in solving the crimes.
The ATF has established a $10,000 reward for information in the fires, which ATF Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan called "violent acts of arson committed throughout our city."
"Arson is a crime of violence and the individuals who committed these acts need to be held accountable for their dangerous actions," McMullan said in a statement.
The ATF is seeking information on multiple fires, including the Mary Harvin Center, a senior housing apartment complex under construction on North Chester Street. The developer said the complex was 45 percent complete when it was destroyed by three-alarm fire that engulfed the building and was visible from blocks away.
Investigators also are looking for a man who was filmed stabbing holes in a fire hose as firefighters fought a blaze at the CVS store at the corner of North Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue on Monday.
The man is described as a black man with a medium build. He was wearing jeans, a red sweatshirt with gray sleeves and hood and a gas mask. Tips can be reported to Metro Crime Stoppers at 410-276-888 or the arson hotline at 1-800-492-7529.
The ATF also is seeking information about fires at a CVS on West Franklin Street and a Rite-Aid store on North Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Anyone with information about any of the fires can call 1-888-ATF-FIRE (1-888-283-3473). Callers who have cell phone video of the fires will be given instructions on how they can upload the video. Informants can remain confidential.
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