TERRE HAUTE —
Arson has been ruled as the cause of a Sept. 16 fire in a second-floor common area of Garfield Towers apartment.
The fire, which was quickly extinguished by two residents, remains under investigation, said arson investigator Norm Loudermilk of the Terre Haute Fire Department.
“We have no suspects at this time,” Loudermilk told the Tribune-Star on Friday. “We are trying to determine if all the fires that have occurred this summer are linked in some way.”
The recent fire is similar to another fire that started under suspicious circumstances in May. That fire occurred in a sixth-floor common area, and a Garfield Towers resident died after being injured in the blaze.
Meanwhile, the Terre Haute Housing Authority has increased a reward from $5,000 up to $10,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in setting the fires.
THHA executive director Jeff Stewart said he hopes that by raising the reward, someone will come forward with information.
He said the housing authority will also be installing surveillance cameras sometime next week in the common areas of the apartment building. Some external cameras will also be installed.
“We have increased security a little bit, and we are monitoring this a little more closely,” Stewart said.
He credits the residents with responding to Sunday’s fire in time to put it out before it got out of control. Damage was contained to a piece of furniture, with minimal smoke damage in the building.
In the May fire, some residents ignored the smoke alarms and remained in their rooms until they were ordered to leave by emergency responders. That was not the case Sunday, as residents took the alarm seriously and evacuated the building until they were allowed back inside.
“Everyone is still on edge a little bit,” Stewart said of the response because of the May fire incident.
Loudermilk said the May incident has technically not been ruled arson, but undetermined. However, he now believes the fire was intentionally set by someone.
Anyone with information about either fire can call CrimeStoppers at 812-238-STOP, or 812-238-7867.
Reporter Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com. Follow her on Twitter @TribStarLisa.
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Garfield Towers fire ruled arson
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