2 Years After Cooper Street 10 Alarm Fire, Still No Arrests

WALTHAM, MA — If you've lived in Waltham for a while, chances are you remember the Cooper Street fire like it was yesterday. Two years ago Tuesday marked the anniversary of the massive 10-alarm fire destroyed an apartment complex under construction in downtown Waltham, causing more than $110 million in damages.

The new luxury complex is set to be completed by the end of this year. The arsonist who started the fire has not been found.

Police detectives said the fire is still under investigation, and anyone with information is encouraged to come forward.

Lt. Scott Perry of the Waltham Fire Department also urged the public to come forward with any information they may have.

The July 23 fire destroyed a 264-unit apartment building under construction, displaced hundreds of people for several hours as they had to evacuate their homes, and damaged two adjacent buildings and some 20 cars. It was an estimated loss of $110 million, according to State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, Waltham Fire Chief Ciccone, and Waltham Police Chief Keith MacPherson. Four firefighters were injured in the fire.

Such a large fire with so many cities coming to fight it is rare, even for the Boston area.

Officials said after the fire was ruled arson that two rewards would be offered - one sponsored by the Property and Casualty Insurance Companies of Massachusetts for $5,000 and another of up to $100,000 dollars by the construction company for help leading to the arrest - and conviction - of those responsible for setting the fire.

Then a year later police released a video showing a person moving inside one of the buildings and then running inside the building just before the fire broke out.

The national average for solving arson has hovered around 20 percent over the past several years, according to FBI crime statistics.

Arsons can be notoriously challenging to solve and to prosecute because much of the evidence goes up in flames, according to fire investigators.

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average 3,750 fires in structures under
construction each year, according to National Fire Protection Association. Fires in structures under construction were associated with five civilian deaths, 51 civilian injuries, and $172 million in direct property damage per year, according to the report. Of the fires set at construction sites, an estimated 13 percent are ruled arson each year.

The Cooper Street fire comes amid a trend of arsonists targeting apartment construction projects across the country.

Mike Pilla, CEO of an residential insurance company Technical Risk Underwriters, told the San Francisco Business Journal there were several leading up to last year, many of them inspired by people angry with new developments popping up threatening to change the fabric of the neighborhood. And, he said, a fire that breaks out in the middle night and spreads fast suggests arson.

The development will have 264 luxury apartments across five buildings along with a fitness center, lounge and outdoor entertaining space with pool, according to the developer.

Previously on Patch:

Waltham Fire, Police Recognized For Cooper St. Fire Response

Waltham Fire Ruled Arson, $100K Reward

Waltham building fire goes to 10 alarms: 'We're going to be here for a while'

Check out a photo gallery of the fire here

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).