Investigation into arson continues as rebuilding begins

Arizona Daily Wildcat Angela Romano/Arizona Daily Wildcat The outside of Arizona Commons after a Sunday arson fire that gutted a two-story apartment and caused about $80,000 in damage. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information leading to arrest or indictment of the arsonist.

Tucson police Detective Sharon Callan said there have been no arrests in connection with the blaze, and that the investigation is still ongoing.

"The fire was intentionally set with an open flame, not with something like a smoldering cigarette or anything," Callan said.

A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information leading to arrest or indictment of the culprit, said Cheri Smith, spokeswoman for the 88-CRIME program of the Pima County Attorney's Office.

Smith said 88-CRIME will film a reenactment of the crime that will be televised during commercial breaks on network news programs and "Tucson's Most Wanted," a local cable television show.

Arizona Commons General Manager Norma Scholl said the scorched apartment will have to be completely rebuilt, including new drywall, insulation, paint, flooring, plumbing and electrical fixtures.

Scholl added that she is receiving bids from contractors and the job should be completed in about three weeks.

The apartment complex's insurance, she said, will pay for structural damage, but residents are responsible for their own property. Scholl said Arizona Commons has hired a company to clean apartments that were filled with smoke.

"They get rid of the smell," Scholl said. "They literally wash everything from the ceiling to the floors."

Anthony Kumar, who lives above the torched apartment, said that the cleaning has not done any thing to rid the smell.

"It smells like a campfire. They cleaned the walls, but it still smells," said Kumar, a business economics sophomore.

Kumar added that his clothes "reek" because of the smoke, and that he was inconvenienced because they all had to be sent to the cleaners.

The landlords paid the residents' cleaning bills, Scholl said.

Anyone with information about the arson can call 88-CRIME with tips. The calls are not recorded, and callers can remain anonymous.