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PROVO — Crews battled flames that gutted three abandoned duplexes in Provo early Friday morning. Investigators said the fires were intentionally set.
The buildings are located near 4800 North and 300 West. Crews had the fires under control by 7 a.m. but continued to douse the smoking buildings.
Investigators don't know who is responsible or why this happened. They suspect arson because three weeks ago a fire was started at in other abandoned duplexes at the same location.
There is no power or natural gas in the buildings.
"We have resources there for the public good and somebody's been very selfish and tied them up for a needless call," said Provo Fire Marshal Lynn Schofield.
Evidence collected at the scene is now at the state crime lab being analyzed. Once the results are in, investigators said it may confirm what they are already thinking, that the two events are related.
"The fires here 3 weeks ago, those were fires, dangerous fires but nothing like we came into this morning, so it concerns me that its gotten so big so fast," Schofield said.
Investigators used Cindy, a trained black labrador, to identify hydrocarbons and flammable liquids.
"She goes through and identifies where the liquid has been spilled or poured and we are able to go in and take samples," Schofield said.
Cindy is one of the four dogs in the state trained to do this job, and investigators said that she is the best tool to find who is behind the crimes.
The ruins left behind were unstable, so a team tore down what was left. A few charred buildings from the first fire remain.
Schofield said arson is costly, and taxpayers ultimately foot the bill to put out the fire and to find and prosecute the responsible party.
"Every time something like this happens, you put firefighters at risk, you put the public at risk. We use up lots of resources. We certainly would like to catch the individuals involved. And when we do, we will prosecute them," he said.
Schofield said anyone with information about the fires should come forward.
Provo City says it would like to see big things happen for this location.
"I'd be lying to you if I said this property we're standing on hasn't been part of a discussion when we talk about development," said Corey Norman, Deputy Mayor for Provo City. "This is a great area of our city and we want to make sure the right things happen.
However, the property is currently privately owned.
