It has been one week since the vacant Hospitality Inn in downtown Birmingham was set on fire for a second time.
Investigators have said both fires were intentional but are clarifying their original use of the term “arson.”
“So an incendiary fire means that it was intentionally set. It was caused by human hands. In order to rule it as an arson, you have to prove that the person had the intent to do damage,” said Birmingham Fire Battalion Chief Sebastian Carrillo.
That’s not to say it won’t be proven later, just not yet.
Carrillo says the investigation is ongoing and adds he can’t say if there are any suspects.
“We do want the public to know that that we are vigilant about bringing this investigation to an end,” said Carrillo.
At times, three of the city’s five ladder trucks worked the fires, but Carrillo says public safety was never in jeopardy.