WASHINGTON (AP) -- Fire investigators arrested a suspect in connection with an arson fire early Friday.
The suspect was picked up just hours after the blaze began around 2 a.m. at the Bruce Garden apartments in the 3000-block of Stanton Rd., S.E.
The suspect may also be responsible for a fire set on Feb.1 in the 1700-block of Trenton Pl. also in S.E., according to a D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman. ``We believe the fires are related to a domestic issue,'' said fire and rescue spokesman Alan Etter.
There was a dramatic rescue of four children from the burning apartment. A man climbed down the side of the three-story building and a woman tossed the children off a balcony to him. She then jumped, injuring her head and hip. She and the children, ages 4-to-11, are hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
There are also questions if the smoke detectors were working in the building, according to the fire department.
Five of the apartments in the 12-unit building have been completely destroyed, displacing 19 people.
Damage to the building is estimated at $180,000.
