Arson News

2 Plead Guilty in Fire at Atlanta Wendy’s During Protest After Rayshard Brooks Killing

ATLANTA (AP) — Two of three people charged with arson in the burning of the Wendy`s restaurant in Atlanta where a police officer fatally shot Rayshard Brooks in June 2020 have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Chisom Kingston, …

Investigators Found Fire and Safety Hazards on Land Under I-10 in Los Angeles Before Arson Fire

LOS ANGELES (AP) — State investigators repeatedly identified fire and safety hazards at a leased storage space under an elevated Los Angeles freeway before it burned in an arson fire, documents show. The Nov. 11 blaze, fed by flammable materials …

Fire that Closed Vital Los Angeles Freeway Called Arson

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A stretch of Interstate 10 in Los Angeles that was seriously damaged in an act of arson does not need to be demolished and can be repaired in three to five weeks, California Gov. Gavin Newsom …

1st Circuit Reverses Denial of Claim Based on Policyholder’s Lack of Cooperation

A policyholder whose representative was unable to answer all of an insurer’s questions and whose lawyer argued that the company’s continued requests for information were unreasonable did not provide an insurer with a basis for denying its claim, a panel …

Man Arrested on Suspicion of Starting Northern California Fire that Burned More than 100 Homes

MARIPOSA, Calif. (AP) — A 71-year-old man was arrested Friday on suspicion of starting a forest fire that destroyed more than 100 homes last year near Yosemite National Park, California fire authorities said. Edward Fredrick Wackerman, of Mariposa, was arrested …

New Zealand Police Say Hostel Fire that Killed 6 Was Arson

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand police said Wednesday they believe a fire that killed at least six people in a Wellington hostel was arson and launched a homicide investigation. Police Inspector Dion Bennett said they haven’t yet arrested …

Wrongfully Convicted Massachusetts Man Gets $13M Settlement

BOSTON (AP) – A Massachusetts man who spent 32 years in prison after he was wrongfully convicted of setting a fire that killed eight people will receive $13 million from the city where he was arrested. “One of the things …

Arrest Made in Minneapolis Mosque Fires that Rattled Muslims

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis police arrested a man suspected of setting two fires that damaged mosques in the city last week as part of what the chief called “an attempt to inflict terror onto our Muslim community.” Police Chief Brian …

Feds: Man Tried to Firebomb Ohio Church to Stop Drag Show

An eastern Ohio man told investigators that he tried to burn down an Ohio church because he wanted to prevent a drag show that was scheduled to take place there, federal prosecutors allege in newly unsealed charges. Aimenn Penny, a …

FBI: Fire that Damaged Massachusetts Church Probed as Arson

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A fire that broke out at a Massachusetts church not long after Easter services is being investigated as a possible arson, according to the FBI and state and local law enforcement agencies. The fire started about …