Arson Blamed In Bradenton Fire

BRADENTON, FL — The Bradenton Fire Department is asking for help in catching an arsonist accused of sparking a Thursday morning blaze.

According to the agency, crews were called out to the 1500 block of Eighth Avenue East around 5:23 a.m. May 11. Units arrived within four minutes and found “what appeared to be a small grass fire,” an email from the agency said.

The affected home was not occupied, the fire department said. No injuries were reported, but officials say they noted the fire appeared suspicious in nature after putting it out. A subsequent investigation deemed the cause to be arson, officials say.

The case is now under investigation by the fire department, Bradenton Police Department, the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive, the agency said.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call 1-877-NO-ARSON. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the identification of the person or people responsible for setting the fire.

No further information, including how the fire was started, is being released at this time.

Photo courtesy of the Bradenton Fire Department