Person of interest wanted in Center City arson
CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- Police are seeking the public's help in an act of arson that forced dozens of evacuations and left a construction site in ruins.
The fire was called in around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday at 13th and Chancellor streets in Center City.
People from two apartment buildings were forced out of their homes.
"I woke up at 4 a.m. because my air conditioning unit was very hot. I got up and looked out the window, and the flames were reaching up to my floor, the 12th floor," said Abhishek Agarwan, a local resident.
The site of the fire was a restaurant under construction. Investigators won't say where the fire started, but they did say they know someone set it on purpose.
"There was approximately $1 million in damage that was done to that structure and the two adjacent structures, and also displaced approximately 40 individuals from their homes," said Special Agent Steven Bartholomew of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The ATF ruled the fire an act of arson Thursday following an investigation.
Authorities released new surveillance images Thursday of a person they want to identify in connection with this case.
No injuries have been reported, but residents said the incident was terrifying.
"I was just scared. I wasn't even with my shirt. Luckily the fireman gave me a shirt because it was cold," said Agarwan.
The Grammercy building is still considered uninhabitable.
When residents returned to the Chancellor, they were greeted with an unsafe structure notice.
However, Action News reached out to Licenses and Inspections, and found the notice no longer applies.
Someone from the department later came to remove it.
In light of recent events, some residents said they won't be occupants for much longer.
"I will probably be moving in the next year," said Agarwan.
The ATF is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the ATF at 215-446-7800.
