Arsonist Set 2-Alarm Fire In Times Square Hotel, Police Say

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The NYPD has determined that a 2-alarm fire that broke out Tuesday at the Staybridge Suites hotel in Times Square was intentionally set, and the department is trying to identify the arsonist, police said.

A woman is accused of using an open flame to spark a fire in one of the Staybridge Suites' rooms and starting two more fires in garbage cans on different floors of the 32-story hotel, police said. After setting the fires, the woman fled the hotel on foot, police said.

Firefighters arrived at the West 40th Street hotel shortly before noon to find flames and smoke in the building's third and 18th floors, fire officials said. The fire was placed under control around 1:15 p.m., fire officials said.

No injuries were reported, an FDNY spokesman said. The fire prompted a heavy FDNY response due to the building's status as a high-rise building. The response was upgraded to two alarms around 12:20 p.m., fire officials said.

The suspect is described as a woman in her 20s or 30s standing about 5-foot-7 and weighing about 180 pounds, police said. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and black shoes, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Photo by NYPD