RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City fire officials responded to a small fire at an apartment complex on New Year’s Eve that they say was arson.
The fire was inside an entryway to the West Park Apartments on 11th Street. Fire investigators say it appears someone lit a stack of boxes located in the entryway on fire. It is located in an area that has seen several suspect fires over the past month.
Tessa Jaeger, spokeswoman for the Rapid City Fire Department, says “we’re seeing a trend at this address, we have responded to several fires at this address over the past couple of months.”
Those fires include one that destroyed an artist’s studio and motorcycle as well as the garage, vehicle and outdoor gear of a local bike shop owner who lives behind the apartment building.
Thursday’s fire was small and extinguished by a sprinkler, but fire investigators are concerned by the apparent intentional setting of fires in the area.
