NEW YORK – A suspected arsonist is being questioned after a deadly fire Thursday night in lower Manhattan.
Charges are pending against the 45-year-old suspect who lived in the now fire-gutted building on Spring Street, police spokesman Paul Browne said.
About 200 firefighters responded to the five-alarm blaze when it broke out around 6:40 p.m. Thursday.
Witnesses said they saw the suspect start the fire on the second floor after a domestic dispute between him and the mother of his child, police said.
Firefighters who were first to the scene said they were immediately suspicious that it may be arson.
“Simply because of the heavy volume of fire on arrival. We had an extraordinary amount of fire. It quickly spread throughout the entire building,” said Dep. Fire Chief James Esposito.
The first emergency responders to arrive said the man stood outside the building and tried to stop them from going inside, police said.
One police officer broke his hand fighting to get past the suspect.
Police said one person was killed in the fire, but was apparently not part of the dispute. The person’s body was found on the third floor fire escape, Browne said
Officials haven’t released the victim’s name, age or gender but neighbors worry about an elderly man who lives at the building and hasn’t been seen.
Neighbor Gina Cecala said she saw him come home Thursday night just before the fire broke out.
“We know the guy that lives in the building, we don’t know if he’s the one who is dead,” she said. “Thirty-five years he’s lived there. He lives on the 4th floor.”
At least seven others received minor injuries. Police said the mother and child are safe.
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