MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A fire that temporarily closed the Orpheum Theatre last month was arson, investigators say.
Fire Department Lt. Bradley Olson said Tuesday investigators had reviewed burn patterns and debris and spoken to numerous employees and others in the wake of the blaze which caused an estimated $100,000 damage and closed the 76-year-old building Dec. 19.
``Based on all of that ... we believe that the fire was intentionally set,'' he said.
``We're at a point where we are looking for help from the community in providing us with information.''
Wisconsin Arson Insurance Council is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who set the fire.
Orpheum manager Merijoy Endrizzi-Ray, said she intends to reopen the restaurant in the lobby by Jan. 14 and the theater in early February.
It was the third fire at the Orpheum during the last year.
An April blaze, which investigators later said was arson, started in the first-floor bathroom janitor's closet and caused about $20,000 damage, but didn't close the business.
A minor fire in another janitor's closet early last month caused about $1,000 damage, Endrizzi-Ray said. It was not investigated, but she said she suspects it was also arson.
