By Jeff Lipton
The vinyl siding on the rear of the apartments at 53 Church Street was set on fire at 10:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21. The blaze caused minor damage and no one was reported injured, fire officials said. A similar blaze was set at the same apartments at 9 p.m. on June 17, authorities said, leading them to believe that an arsonist is at work.
The first fire was set in a window well, also causing minor damage to the vinyl siding and no injuries were reported in that blaze. But detectives said they want to put a stop to it now before another blaze is started and people are trapped or injured in the fire.
The Inwood Fire Department responded to the Aug. 21 fire and quickly put it out, according to Det. Brian Kaminski of the Nassau County Arson/Bomb Squad, which is leading the investigation into the arsons.
The previous fire was not discovered until a day or two after it was set and apparently went out on its own, officials said. That blaze was lit either June 16, June 17 or June 18.
Inv. Joseph Schweitzer of the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office said detectives have interviewed occupants of the apartments and no one seems to know why someone is trying to burn the building. Either that or they are not telling us why, Schweitzer said.
These fires were both intentionally set, Schweitzer said. It was almost the same type of fire. Someone is playing around here. We talked to everyone in the building and they said they have had no problems with anyone or they are not telling us.
Schweitzer said the arsonist used whatever materials were available at the scene to set the fires, including paper at the side of the house.
Anyone with information about the fires may call the Fourth Squad at 573-6452 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All calls will be kept strictly confidential, authorities said.
A reward may be offered for information leading to an arrest, officials said.
