Fire department says Thursday night blaze set intentionally

Officials are searching for one arsonist in two cases

By Katherine Miller

Published Dec. 12, 2008

A vacant home at 12 Fourth Ave. was intentionally set on fire Thursday night, Columbia Fire Department officials said. 

"There was physical evidence that was uncovered on the scene, which did provide a cause of the fire," Department Capt. Eric Hartman said.

The arsonist is also believed to have set a fire at the same location on Dec. 1, which caused $5,000 worth of damage to the house, Hartman said.

Firefighters responded to the fire Thursday at around 11:44 p.m., and found smoke and flames coming from the back of the house, stated a news release from the department. 

Crews were able to control the fire within 10 minutes.

Fire and smoke damage for Thursday's fire is estimated at $18,000, but there were no injuries, according to the news release.

"That's still quite a bit of damage, but it wasn't as severe as last night," Hartman said.

The house was vacant both times the fires were set. Raymond and Charlotte Boothe own the home, but rent it out to tenants. This is the fourth arson case in the same area of Columbia in just one month.

Hartman said all of the targets and cases are similar.

"Similar evidence was found," he said. "Samples were taken, and they'll be sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab in Jefferson City."

Although the Columbia Police Department and Fire Marshall's division say they have some leads on who might have started the fires, they are still asking the public for any information they might have. The police cannot release any leads of suspects at this time.

"We're asking if anyone saw any suspicious persons or vehicles around 11:30 to 11:45 last night, either on Fourth Avenue, or on Sexton Road, around the intersection," Hartman said.

Authorities are asking anyone with any information about the crimes to contact Crime Stoppers.

The joint investigation between CFD and CPD's Major Crimes Unit is ongoing.

"Hopefully we'll have some resolution," Hartman said. "Ultimately, the goal is to try to get an arrest and a conviction on a suspect."