LANCASTER -- An early morning fire Thursday that destroyed the 6th Circuit Solicitor's Office has been deemed arson, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
The solicitor's office fire happened just across the street from the 180-year-old Lancaster County Courthouse, which was heavily damaged just three days earlier by another fire that officials said was set.
Officials have not said if the two fires appear to be connected, but Lancaster Police Capt. Harlean Howard said the fires do seem to be suspicious.
"Given the circumstances with the two fires, we're concerned about the possibility of more fires being committed as well as the safety and well being of our community members," Howard said.
No one was injured in Thursday's blaze, which significantly damaged connecting attorney's offices, Howard said. No arrests had been made late Thursdy.
The fire occurred at 4:14 a.m. Thursday at 109 W. Dunlap St., the office of 6th Circuit Solicitor Doug Barfield, who could not be reached for comment.
The fire, which was contained quickly, destroyed the solicitor's office and four other attorneys' offices. No information was available on exactly where the fire started. Authorities have not determined what triggered the fire, Howard said.
However, criminal justice business will not come to an halt as a result of the fires, she said.
Court proceedings and trials will continue as scheduled with some and changes in locations, Howard said during a press conference near the fire site.
Thursday's fire is the fifth suspicious fire in less than 30 days in Lancaster County. A fire gutted a two-story house on Green Road on July 15.
Three days later, a Lancaster man woke around 10:45 p.m. to find his Ben Massey Road house burning. At midnight, a fire at Catoe's Plumbing, Heating & Wiring resulted in $500,000 worth of damage, according to police.
Officials at the State Law Enforcement Division have not said if those fires are the work of an arsonist, citing pending investigations, SLED spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said.
Local authorities on Thursday offered limited information about Lancaster's latest fire. Inquiries to the city fire department were directed to Lancaster police. No police or fire report was available Thursday, but more information could be released today, Howard said.
The latest blaze left authorities on guard and attracted residents' attention. Around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, Marc Culler came to his downtown restaurant that sits less than two minutes from the solicitor's office.
"There was a good bit of smoke coming out of the door of the building," said Culler, owner of Leigh-Anne's Restaurant.
Nearly 12 hours after the fire, Culler voiced his concerns.
"Monday's fire was a sad thing, being a historical building," he said. "The fire today is a concern."
After the courthouse burned, Culler said that it was unreal that another fire would claim another downtown building.
"My first thought was this is a strange coincidence," he said. "If not, somebody is pretty brave to come back and continue their escapade."
Maggie Bowers stood near yellow police tape near the solicitor's office.
"It leaves you speechless," said Bowers, a 40-year Lancaster County resident, as she eyed the charred building that housed the solicitor's office.
She wondered if the fire was someone's revenge.
"That's just scary," she said. "That's a vindictive or some kind of hateful act."
Another Lancaster County resident, Ed Jones, added, "All the history is being taken away from us. It's a shame. It looks like someone is definitely trying to cover up some evidence."
The fire is being investigated by SLED, the Lancaster City Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the fire.
Anyone with information is asked to call South Carolina Arson Hotline at 1-800-92 ARSON; Crime Stoppers at 1-888-559-TIPS; Lancaster Police Department at 803-283-1171 or Lancaster County Sheriff's Office at (803) 283-3388.
