Jefferson County, New York 911 reported around 3:13 a.m. recieving a call in the 200 block of High Street Tuesday morning for a structure fire at 239 High Street, Watertown, New York.
The Watertown Fire Department called for assistance from the Fort Drum Fire Department, and volunteer companies from town of Watertown, Northpole and Calcium were placed on standby at their stations.
City firefighting crews and neighboring volunteer departments responded with equipment, arriving on scene to a fully engulfed structral fire with the front and upper level of the building in flames.
The building contains eight apartments, four of which were occupied at the time of the fire.
The building was extensively damaged. Watertown Fire Department Battalion Chief Paul Fitzgerald has stated, the building is a "total loss". He also reported stated that a witness claims to have seen someone pouring gasoline on the front porch, and that the fire's location could be an indicator that the fire was set with the intention of keeping those inside from escaping.
Watertown Fire Department Fire Dale Herman stated some people jumped out of windows to escape the blaze. Three people were taken to the Samaritan Medical Center, including one person who jumped from an upper level, the jumper was believed to have suffered only a broken leg.
Chief Dale Herman said, "The police department's working on a number of leads and a gas can would be something that would be collected in any course in any investigation, so we don't know if it’s directly related to this fire or not, we're still trying to piece everything together."
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but police believe it may have been intentionally set. A team of firefighters remains to keep watch over the site and investigate. It's reported that a call for an arson dog to check for signs of an accelerant has been made.
Watertown apartment complex destroyed by fire - YNN, Your News Now
Watertown Daily Times | Sources: Man in custody in Watertown arson fire
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
