Phoenix parking structure fire being investigated as arson

PHOENIX — About 30 firefighters put out a blaze that involved more than 10 vehicles under a Phoenix apartment complex’s parking structure Tuesday morning.

Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade told KTAR News 92.3 FM that investigators determined that the fire was arson.

“We believe this is an arson fire. We believe that it is human-caused,” McDade said.

“We have a person of interest and we’re going to try to locate that individual and bring them in for questioning.”

Phoenix Fire released a photo of the unidentified person of interest on Wednesday.

McDade said just before 5:30 a.m. multiple cars were on fire, and flames spread to the apartment building about 50 feet west of the structure near 15th Avenue and Camelback Road.

The firefighters first focused efforts on the building, which was evacuated and received minimal damage.

They then extinguished the fire engulfing the cars, but most of the vehicles were totally destroyed.

McDade said the fire also burned through power lines, but SRP quickly began replacing them and the complex was expected to have power restored by Tuesday night.

“We had multiple levels of danger involved in this fire. Luckily, there were no injuries and no fatalities,” McDade said.

He said none of the apartment’s residents were displaced due to the damage.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Nailea Leon contributed to this report. 

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