MARBLEHEAD — Following a suspicious fire at 265 Pleasant St. earlier this week, officials are offering up to a $5,000 reward for related information and help to identify an individual captured on camera near the property around the time of the incident.
Fire Chief Jason Gilliland, Police Chief Dennis King, and State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey released a public statement Thursday asking Marblehead residents for their help as they investigate the fire’s cause. The fire took place at a building under construction. It was first reported through an alarm activation at about 1 a.m. Monday and extinguished soon after.
“A fire in a building that’s under construction, renovation, or demolition is dangerous,” Ostroskey said in a statement. “These structures often have limited fire protection measures in place. That puts firefighters at greater risk, and it means fires can cause more damage or put the community in harm’s way by spreading to occupied homes and businesses.”
The Marblehead Fire Department, Marblehead Police detectives, and the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office are jointly investigating the fire and its origin.
The release said that in particular, the officials hope to identify and speak with the person seen in surveillance footage that was recorded around the time of the fire by a camera near 265 Pleasant St.
“We believe this person may have information that could be helpful to investigators,” Gilliand said in a statement. “We also encourage anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact the Arson Watch Reward Program.”
Community members with potentially helpful information can call The Arson Watch Reward Program at 1-800-682-9229. The program takes calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls to the program are confidential.
The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriters Association coordinates the program and regularly offers rewards of up to $5,000 for information that detects or prevents arson fires.
The release said tipsters may also contact the Marblehead Police Department directly at 781-631-1212.
