Arson arrest made in fire that destroyed six rowhomes in Atlantic City
ATLANTIC CITY - A Pleasantville woman is accused of setting a blaze that spread to three alarms and tore through six rowhomes here.
Monica Parish, 48, was charged one day after the June 21 blaze on the 1500 block of Belfield Avenue, according to the Atlantic City Police Department.
Police and firefighters rescued about 10 people from the burning buildings, including some taken to safety via ladders, said Atlantic City Fire Department Chief Scott Evans.
Three people were treated at a local hospital.
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The buildings, some of them boarded up, were occupied by both tenants and squatters, according to Evans.
How was Atlantic City arson suspect identified?
The arrest followed an investigation by Atlantic City's police and fire departments, as well as the state Division of Fire Safety.
"Investigators spoke with several witnesses who reported seeing a woman using an accelerant on several porches to start the fire," according to a police statement released Friday.
A K9 dog showed a positive indication for the presence of an accelerant in several areas.
"Based on the information provided, investigators were able to identify the woman as Monica Parish," the police statement said.
The blaze, reported around 1 p.m., was not brought under control for almost two-and-a-half hours.
Evans said firefighting efforts were delayed by the immediate need to save residents. Several were on the buildings' second and third floors, and some had to be taken down via ladders.
Praise for first responders and residents
Firefighters, who arrived to find the building's porches engulfed in flames, "immediately switched gears into rescue mode, and went right into action in what was a challenging situation," said Evans.
Windy conditions on Wednesday also helped the flames to spread, he said.
According to the police statement, "an unknown individual" on Thursday reported the alleged arsonist was at Atlantic County Office Building in the 1300 block of Atlantic Avenue.
Parish was detained, questioned and charged with aggravated arson. She was being held in Atlantic County Jail.
The charge is only an allegation. Parish has not been convicted in the case.
The statement included praise for the city's first responders and for residents who helped with the investigation.
“Without hesitation, the men and women of the Atlantic City Fire Department and Atlantic City Police Department ran into that burning building and saved lives, then they were able to quickly figure out the cause," said Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr.
Police Chief James A. Sarkos expressed gratitude to investigators, first responders "and most importantly, the members of the community who aided us from the initial response to the arrest of the suspect.”
Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email him at jwalsh@cpsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Monica Parish arrested one day after three-alarm fire in Atlantic City
