The scene Wednesday along E. 31st Street in Baltimore.Photo: Steve Ruark/AP/Shutterstock
Officials in Baltimore are investigating if two separate fires that injured three people and damaged four homes were started intentionally, and whether the houses were targeted because of their Pride decorations.
The fires happened Wednesday morning on East 31st Street in the city’s Abell neighborhood.
Two of the three injured people have since been released from the hospital, according to officials.
A 74-year-old man is still receiving care, and his condition is serious.
The first fire happened at around 4:30 a.m. at a home where a Pride flag was set ablaze, according to police. Then, at 5 a.m., a fire broke out at a home with Pride decorations directly across the street.
“This is an ongoing investigation to determine facts, to determine the cause, and right now, we’re not prepared or equipped to determine cause or the facts of how it started,” Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison told reporters during a Wednesday briefing.
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That same morning, not far from the house fires, officials responded to the scene of two other fires: one in a dumpster, and another, a car fire.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Baltimore Field Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Baltimore Field Office are assisting Baltimore authorities in their investigation.
Anyone with any information about the fires is asked to contact Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LockUp or theATFat 888-ATF-TIPS.
source: people.com
