Arson Is Cause of D.C. Hotel Fires, Officials Rule

Federal and District of Columbia investigators have ruled arson as the cause of six predawn fires Sunday that injured five people and caused $1 million in damage at a luxury hotel.

Capt. Alvin Carter, spokesman for the city Fire Department, said Sunday night that officials have a suspect, but no charges have been filed. Fire Department sources who asked not to be identified by name said the suspect is a former hotel employee.

The 772-room Omni-Shoreham Hotel evacuated more than 1,000 occupants about 3:15 a.m. EDT after staff members discovered six fires, including one in a ballroom and another in a storage room for linens and other flammable goods.

Five people were hospitalized, including two firefighters, but none of the injuries was considered to be life-threatening.

Carter said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is also investigating the case because it involves arson in a public building.

Hotel officials said the hotel was almost full because of a large number of visitors for the weekend display of the AIDS Quilt on the Mall.

Carter said two fires apparently were set in sub-basements and one was discovered in each of the hotel’s east and west wings.

“Whoever may have set the fires was very familiar with the layout of the building,” Carter said. “They were unconnected and ignited in hard-to-reach areas of the building.”