ARSON SUSPECTED
Building was unoccupied when firefighters arrived
Investigators believe a fire that caused extensive damage to state Democratic Party headquarters early Friday in downtown Phoenix was intentionally set.
Heavy smoke and fire were billowing from the building about 1 a.m. near Central Avenue and Thomas Road as Phoenix firefighters arrived at the scene. They quickly entered the building in search of people and began a fire attack to put out the flames, according to officials.
No one was inside the building at the time, and no injuries were reported.
Phoenix Fire Investigation Task Force and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigators were investigating the fire. Phoenix police spokeswoman Sgt. Mercedes Fortune said the incident is being investigated as an arson based on evidence discovered at the scene.
Phoenix police also responded to the fire to assist with security and traffic control in the area, according to Fortune.
More information will be released as it becomes available, according to Fortune.
Anyone with pertinent information should call Phoenix police at 602-2626151, Silent Witness at 480-948-6377 or 480-837-8446 for Spanish.
Felecia Rotellini, chair of the state Democratic Party, learned of the fire at 2 a.m. after the security system went off and staffers made her aware.
“At this point, it’s too soon to tell,” she said, referring to the extent of the damage. “The investigators are scheduled to be at the scene at 8 a.m. so we don’t know anything right now, but we’re very fortunate that everyone is safe and in this virtual environment. We can continue to run the party and do everything we need to do for November.
“While this is devastating, our eyes are on the prize in November and this just makes us stronger,” she said.
The fire appeared to have caused extensive damage, particularly on the north side of the building where the Maricopa County Democratic Party works from.
learning and support services” for students who need a place to go during the day.” That could be in a school, Hoffman said, or someplace like the Boys and Girls Club.
That’s a good thing for parents who simply don’t the option to stay home.
But when it comes to enforcing some basic health requirements before schools can fully reopen to Arizona’s 1.1 million schoolchildren, Ducey punted.
Let the school districts take the heat from parents who demand that in-person classes start on Aug. 17, the ones who believe kids can’t get sick or spread COVID-19 to their teachers or their families or their friends.
Let the school districts deal with the wrath of President Donald Trump, who desperately wants the schools to reopen in an attempt to reignite the economy and his sagging poll numbers.
Let them deal with the people who see this virus not as a threat to public health but as a media-led Democratic conspiracy to unseat a president.
And let them take the heat if they reopen too soon and the virus comes roaring back (again) because we were careless (again).
Never mind that even U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams this week said the country needs to lower the transmission rate of COVID-19 before reopening schools.
Never mind, even, Ducey’s own warning during Thursday’s weekly press conference, held to update Arizonans on the coronavirus.
“It’s highly contagious and it’s in every part of our state and you really help Arizona when you are at home at this point in the pandemic,” he said.
Hoffman, meanwhile, tried to act as if she and the governor were actually doing something.
“I cannot ask our educators and families to enter this school year, without critical assurances, policies and resources to set them up for safety and success,” she said.
Actually, Superintendent Hoffman, I think you just did.