Officials: 1 Dies In South Side Arson
Photojournalist Shawn Holmes
UPDATE: A victim is identified after an overnight fatal fire that has been labeled arson.
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Arson investigators and homicide detectives continued to work together after an overnight fatal fire on the city’s South Side.
NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS Saturday.
Columbus fire was called to the 600 block of Locke Avenue on a house fire around 11:30 p.m. Friday. The original call was to Barthman Avenue.
A man was found inside the home, according to officials. He was later identified as 27-year-old Robert Brumfield.
He was found in a hallway and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Dave Whiting confirmed the fire was arson close to 9 a.m. Saturday.
Investigators determined accelerants were present in the apartment, Whiting said.
Brumfield’s cause of death was to be determined by the county coroner’s office.
Columbus firefighters also responded to two other fires on the South Side overnight at 63 E. Morrill Ave. and 1708 S. Pearl St.
Both of those fires were in vacant buildings and suspicious in nature, according to Whiting.
He said those two fire might be connected to the South Side arsonist, but the fatal fire likely wasn’t connected.
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Reader Reactions
So how many homicides in Columbus to date? It has to be a least 20 by now. Not even 20 weeks into the year. Looking good, Columbus. No wonder people are LEAVING.
How can the investigators determine an acclerant was used but then in the next breath say that they do not believe that it is connected with the South Side arsons going on? I think before someone speaks and makes that determination that they should completely investigate it first.
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