Fire Disrupts YMS Dismissal; Suspect Apprehended

By WYDaily Staff Thursday, March 11, 2010

A suspicious apartment fire in the neighborhood just west of Yorktown Middle School and concern that a suspect who may have set it was at large led to a delayed dismissal at the school Wednesday.

Firefighters were called around the corner to the 100 block of Whitt Court around 2 p.m. Wednesday for an apartment fire in a second floor unit. Heavy smoke billowed from the second story windows and attic, and the first units encountered heavy smoke and fire in the second floor apartment. They quickly realized no one was home, then evacuated adjacent apartments and moved those residents to safety until the fire was out.

Fire and Life Safety spokesman Capt. Paul Long said firefighters made an aggressive interior fire attack, which kept the fire from spreading to  five adjacent apartments. The fire was under control in 20 minutes.

While firefighters brought down the blaze, deputies from the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office learned the fire may have been set intentionally, and gathered suspect information.

The suspect was not at the apartment, but was believed to be nearby. Deputies established a perimeter and began their search. As a precaution, several deputies were sent to nearby Yorktown Middle School to stand by as students were dismissed for the day. Students were delayed slightly getting home, otherwise there was no disruption.

Around 2:50 p.m. the suspect, whom the sheriff's office has not yet identified, was located and detained in the area of the Coleman Bridge on Route 17.

Fire and sheriff's investigators continue to investigate the origin and cause of the fire, as well as pursue criminal charges in the case.

Occupants from the apartment immediately adjacent to the fire are being assisted by the property management company, as well as the York-Poquoson Chapter of the American Red Cross.