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3 arson cases in over a month
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Posted on Mar 19 2009
A building under renovation in Tanapag was intentionally burned last week, bringing to three the number of arson cases on Saipan in over a month.
Department of Public Safety spokesperson Lei Ogumoro said yesterday that a two-story building located north of Saipan Ice Co. was deliberately set on fire.
No one was reported injured.
Ogumoro said that on Saturday at 3:34am DPS received a report of a fire in Tanapag. Firefighters immediately responded to the area.
The DPS spokesperson did not say why the report was released to the media only yesterday.
Quoting fire investigators, Ogumoro said the southern portion of the building sustained the most damage.
The southern portion of the second floor, with its flooring made of wood, was gobbled up by the blaze and eventually collapsed.
The DPS spokesperson said the exterior of the building was intact but smoke and fire damage could be seen on the concrete wall and metal roof.
“Based on preliminary investigation, when firefighters got to the scene, more than half of the building was engulfed in flames from the south portion extending more than halfway to the northern portion of the building,” Ogumoro said.
Firefighters fully extinguished the blaze at 7am that day.
Ogumoro said the building’s owner, a 46-year-old Korean, stated that the structure was under renovation.
“This case is pending further investigation. Investigators have, however, classified this case as arson-related,” she said.
The NMI Crime Stoppers Program is offering up to $1,000 reward to anyone who can provide information about the person or persons who burned down the building.
Last Feb. 5, an unoccupied house in Afetnas was reportedly intentionally set on fire by an unidentified person or persons. No one was injured in that incident.
Last Feb. 16, an abandoned house in Kagman III Phase 1 was also reportedly set on fire by unidentified person or persons. No one was also hurt in that blaze.
Investigators discovered that an electrical drop line that should have been connected from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s telephone pole to the house’s electrical meter was not there.
As of yesterday, no one was arrested yet in the three reported arson cases.
