3 Restaurant Fires Investigated As Arson; Fire Marshal Releases Video

ARLINGTON, VA — A video of a person of interest in connection to fires that occurred early Thursday morning at three restaurants in Crystal City. The incident is being investigated as arson, Arlington County Fire officials said.

Firefighters responded around 5:30 a.m. to a structure fire in the 500 block of South 23rd Street and found items on fire in the enclosed patio of the Crystal City Sports Club.

With the restaurant’s sprinkler system containing the fire, firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze and prevent it from spreading to the main structure of the building. No injuries were reported, according to the fire department.

ABC7 reported that another surveillance video showed someone starting a fire at Freddie's Beach Bar. Minutes later, a fire was reported outside McNamara’s Bar, which is also on South 23rd Street.

"The door is toast,” Freddie Lutz, who owns the Freddie’s, told ABC7. "There was a big burst of flame, and it even scorched the roof in the little entryway out there. I'm surprised it didn't catch the whole porch on fire."

Lutz told ABC7 that the LGBTQ+ bar that some guy had left a threatening message just before the fires.

On Friday morning, a Crystal City Sports Club employee the restaurant was able to open on Thursday, noting that they’re open 365 days a year. However, the section of the patio where the fire occurred was still closed.

The Office of the Fire Marshal said Friday the fire was being investigated as arson and released a surveillance video of a person of interest.

In the video, a person is seen walking up the sidewalk and stopping near Freddie's. After bending down to do something on the ground, the person turns toward the patio and then walks away. Behind them, a ball of fire suddenly erupts on the patio.

Residents are being asked to review their Ring cameras between 4 and 6 a.m. on Thursday to help identify the person in the video.

The Office of the Fire Marshal asks anyone with information to contact Lt. Wandekha Kanthula at 571-357-0769 or wkanthula@arlingtonva.us.