Man Arrested Inside Anderson Plant on Night of Fire Released

Feb. 1, 2005
A man arrested inside a magnesium recycling plant the night of a fire that caused thousands of surrounding residents to be evacuated is no longer a suspect in the arson investigation, a federal agent said.

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) -- A man arrested inside a magnesium recycling plant the night of a fire that caused thousands of surrounding residents to be evacuated is no longer a suspect in the arson investigation, a federal agent said.

James Rose, head of the Indianapolis office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said Monday that Joshua D. Kirkwood, 28, of Anderson was no longer a person of interest in the Jan. 14 fire at Advanced Magnesium Alloys Corp.

Investigators have said they believe the fire was set intentionally, but have not indicated how that may have occurred or what the motive may have been.

Kirkwood was arrested on charges of obstruction of a firefighter and public intoxication. Authorities found him inside the building with a fire extinguisher and he told firefighters he wanted to help extinguish the blaze.

Rose said that a federal search warrant was served on a second person last Thursday.

Kirkwood was released from the Madison County Jail around noon Friday.

``There was nothing pointing in his (Kirkwood's) direction that we could uncover,'' Anderson police Detective Terry Sollars said. ``It was just very strange for him to be inside the building, by the fire. That's what prompted the investigation on him anyway.''

State investigators last week offered a $5,000 reward for information in the case.

The fire forced about 8,000 residents from their homes as smoke poured from the structure. Anderson attorney Thomas Hamer has filed a lawsuit on behalf of residents, seeking compensation for costs incurred when they were evacuated.

Magnesium, a lightweight metal, is used in alloys for aircraft and automobile parts. In its pure form, it is highly flammable and reacts violently with water.

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