Fire marshals arrested Luis Lopez on Friday. Photo Courtesy of FDNY
City fire marshals on Friday arrested a suspect in connection with a four-alarm fire in Woodhaven on Wednesday night that destroyed eight homes and injured five civilians.
Luis Lopez, 30, a tenant at 91-21 90th St., was awaiting arraignment on Friday afternoon, according to Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.
Investigators indicated that shortly after a dispute involving Lopez in which he was given in an ultimatum to vacate the premises at 91-21, the landlord and another occupant smelled smoke. The fire was reported at 8:11 p.m. on the first floor of the two-story house, and by the time the first-due fire companies arrived, the flames had spread to the roof and adjacent residences.
Approximately 39 units and 168 firefighters responded to the blaze. Four firefighters sustained non-life threatening injuries.
According to multiple sources, three dogs from two residences also perished in the fire.
“Setting a fire is a serious crime with potentially deadly consequences,” Nigro said. “Fortunately there was no loss of [human] life at this incident, but tragically the quick moving fire destroyed eight homes before being brought under control.”
By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
