Arson was committed in the fire that occurred Monday night at a housing complex three miles north of campus, Tucson Police Department officials have determined.
The fire happened at Briarwood Apartments, 1300 E. Fort Lowell Road, around 9:40 p.m. last night. It affected a total of eight apartments, causing about $400,000 in damage, said Capt. Paul McDonough of the Tucson Fire Department.
Because the fire is still under investigation, police said they could not release details on how the fire started.
There were no injuries and individuals who were displaced as a result of the fire were moved to vacant apartments within the same complex, said Amy Crosby, an assistant manager of the apartment complex.
“”We offered most people new apartments and are giving them concessions, either half off of their rent or one month free of rent,”” Crosby said.
The apartment complex is popular among UA students because of its distance from campus and its location on the CatTran route, Crosby said, although she could not confirm whether any of the individuals displaced were UA students.
The fire began on the first floor of the complex and spread upward, McDonough said.
Only two individuals who were displaced by the fire had renter’s insurance, which can provide thousands of dollars in restitution in this type of situation, Crosby said.
Luckily, Crosby added, the Red Cross has set up a walk-in station at the apartment complex and is helping displaced individuals monetarily as well as supplying food, water and clothing.
“”Our residents really pulled together last night and went around knocking on doors to get everyone out,”” Crosby said. “”Luckily, no one was hurt and every pet made it out OK.””
Officer Dallas Wilson of the Tucson Police Department said that investigators currently have no suspects and no witnesses. Anyone with information is encouraged to call 911 or 88-CRIME. Calls can be made anonymously.