Officials: Fires ‘intentionally set’ in Brockton
Authorities are looking for two people who they say went on an arson spree in Brockton early Wednesday, setting multiple fires, including a 5-alarm conflagration that ripped through the historic “old State House” on the Brockton Fairgrounds.
Firefighters scrambled to put out multiple “intentionally set” blazes overnight, the first of which was reported at 12:54 a.m. at a building known as the old State House because it was once owned by the state and resembled the one in Boston, Deputy Fire Chief Edward Williams said.
Just two minutes after that 5-alarm blaze was reported, a brush fire broke out at West Junior High School at 271 West St., Williams said.
Then, at 1:15 a.m., Brockton Police responded to a burglary by two people at Sears in the Westgate Mall, authorities said.
Shortly after the break-in, there was a brush fire in the D.W. Field Park, officials said.
A fourth fire was discovered Wednesday morning at Marciano Stadium, where an item had been burned on the football field and damaged the artificial turf, authorities said.
“It’s believed the same two people from the break-in are responsible for all of it,” Williams said.
Mayor Robert Sullivan thanked “the brave men and women that serve the Brockton Fire Department” and put out the fires.
“We put them out with no injuries, thank God,” Sullivan said Wednesday. “But … we lost the historic piece in the fairgrounds. … It’s a total loss. It’s going to be toppled today, and it’s just a sad day because it’s a piece of history that’s lost forever.”
Chris Carney, whose family owns the fairgrounds and the old State House, watched Wednesday as what was left of the building was dismantled.
“It was kind of iconic for the city, even though it hadn’t been in use for at least 20 years,” he said. “When they had the fairs, the state and 4-H would have their exhibits there. But she’s down now. It’s a shame.”
Authorities released a photo of a person they want to interview in connection with the incidents.
Officials urged anyone who has any information about the fires to call the arson hotline at 800-6829229, the Brockton Police Department at 508-941-0200 or the Brockton Fire Department at 508-5832933. All calls are confidential.
The arson hotline is part of a reward program, which offers up to $5,000 for information that helps to solve an arson.