Investigators are calling it arson today. Two suspects have been arrested for sparking a Williamburg fire that burned four buildings during Yom Kippur last month.
Police say that the arsonists was hired by another man who allegedly wanted to burn down a commercial building. But that fire got out of control, left families homeless, and today, both men are under arrest.
Investigators say this fire was no accident.
The flames ripped through the two-story commercial building in Williamsburg on the morning of October 4th just days before the Yom Kippur holiday. Many Hasidic Jews live in the neighborhood and the fire left nearly 20 Orthodox families homeless for the Jewish holiday.
The fire was put out quickly in about an hour but hours later the flames were rekindled. Three more buildings went up in smoke including a Kosher grocery store and a synagogue.
Investigators arrested two people over the weekend who they believe set the blaze.
The suspects are 60-year old Peter Pierre who reportedly sells comic books from his home and 50-year old William Jones, an alleged drug addict.
Pierre is accused of paying Jones one hundred dollars to set the fire and even supplying him with the gasoline.
Now authorities are trying to determine why. One possible motive authorities are looking into is that Pierre hated the building's owner.
Mr. Pierre, wheelchair-bound, is known in this neighborhood as "Wheelchair Pete." Both men face up to fifteen years in prison if convicted of the charges.
