Police Continue to Investigate Arson

An act of arson displaced 55 Stillwater residents Wednesday after a massive early-morning fire tore through a 16-unit Birchwood Townhomes complex.

The State Fire Marshal is confident the fire was intentionally set, Stillwater Police Chief John Gannaway said early Wednesday afternoon. How the fire was started remains under investigation.

No injuries were reported, though one resident was evaluated. Some family pets died in the fire.

The fire caused more than $500,000 in damage, Stillwater Fire Chief Stu Glaser said.

No arrests had been made as of Wednesday afternoon, but police continue to look into "several avenues of investigation," Gannaway said. One person was briefly detained, questioned and then released.

Police are offering a reward of up to $2,500. Tips can be called into 1-800-723-2020.

An explosion, and an odd odor

One resident said she believes the fire started when someone threw a “fire bomb” on her patio.

Renee Breault said she was sleeping on the couch when she saw the flames.

She immediately called 911 and then ran upstairs to get her kids and evacuate.

“It stunk horribly,” she said. “What it smells like out here now, it was like 100 times stronger; it was awful.”

After she got out of the building, she ran around to the neighbors’ homes, yelling to wake them up.

“I didn’t even think about it, I just went out there screaming,” she said. “Pretty much everyone heard it so everyone got out safe.”

Ashley Foley, a nearby resident, said she was on Skype with a friend at 3 a.m. when she heard an explosion and was immediately overcome with an odd smell of fire.

"The boom was so close I thought it was my neighbors," she said. Within 30 seconds, Foley said she walked down her patio and saw "50-foot flames" coming from the roof of the townhouse complex.

She immediately ran to her neighbors’ homes and started pounding on doors.

"It was a huge rush of adrenaline," Foley said. "I saw the flames and all I could think about was the families here, the kids and the fact that I had to do something right now."

Arson

As the morning grew long, police confirmed what many residents feared was the cause of the blaze: arson.

Just before announcing that the fire was intentionally set, police hung arson tip line signs throughout the scorched buildings of the townhome complex.

One of those signs hangs just to the left of the entry to unit 107, home of Ibrahim Garado, his wife and three young children, ages 1, 3 and 6.

Garado stands at the entrance of with his infant in his arms and says: “See where the siding is melted around that bedroom window? That is where two of my children were sleeping.”

Garado was awoken by a neighbor frantically knocking on his door, yelling fire.

"I didn't have a chance to do anything but grab my kids,” he said. “We got outside and police were everywhere. Fire was everywhere.

"It's very, very tragic," Garado continued. "We don't have any place to go right now, but we're working on it.”

Garado said he lives in a nice neighborhood.

“We've never had any problems here,” he said. “This is just crazy."

Several other residents echoed those same sentiments about their neighborhood, as they stood in shock and disbelief.

"For someone to do this," Foley said holding back tears, "I think they are a monster—they are beyond a monster. People can be crazy, but I don't understand how someone could come here, where every single apartment has children, and do something like this. It didn't just impact one family. It affected everyone who lives here.

"Whoever did this could come back," Foley continued. "I don't know what they were trying to get out of this, but they could have really hurt somebody. If they're crazy enough to do it once, why not come back and do it again?"

Community

The sense of community is what's holding the residents together as they sit on blankets and watch officials sift through the scorched complex.

"It's overwhelming because these people are my friends," Foley said. "My son plays with these kids every day. Our kids all play together in pools and we have picnics together all the time.

"I think we're doing a good job pulling together at this point," she continued. "Within hours of this happening people were helping each other with clothes, shoes and blankets."

Zach Wilson the interim pastor at , where many of the displaced families took refuge after the fire, said a lot of the fire victims were children.

As the day progressed, the children played, watched movies and took naps in the church recreation center since being abruptly awoken at about 3 a.m.

"They're doing pretty well," he said. "But some of them are grieving over pets that didn't make it out."

Cheryl Klink, the church’s Youth Director, spent much of her day with the children.

“To hear them talking about being pulled from their bedrooms and the loss of pets has been really hard,” Klink said. “They have an idea of what happened. They know someone started the fire and it’s been really upsetting for them to hear that.

“But this is what the church is for,” she continued. “Our biggest concern is making these kids comfortable.”

Wilson said one thing that stood out to him throughout the day was how fire victims came together, bonded and watched over one another in the midst of a traumatic experience.

“It’s a testament to the face of community in the midst of a tragedy,” he said.

Red Cross and Valley Outreach

Red Cross volunteers responded to and have been on the scene of fire since 4 a.m. Wednesday to set up and run the victim service center in First Presbyterian Church.

Volunteers spent the day and evening hours feeding, sheltering and providing financial assistance for 59 people who have been displaced by the fire, said Jan George, executive director of the St. Croix Valley Chapter of the Red Cross. The Red Cross also staffed nurses throughout the day.

“It’s been amazing,” George said. “I’ve been doing this for 42 years, and this is probably one of the smoothest operations I have seen as far as immediacy and being able to meet the people’s needs and health concerns.”

Others through the church and elsewhere in the community have donated food, clothing, and toys and sent volunteers to help watch and play with the children, George said. But the best way to help the Red Cross help the victims of the Birchwood Townhomes arson fire is through donations.

Valley Outreach is also working with the local Red Cross and First Presbyterian Church to assist the victims of the Birchwood Townhomes fire. Today, Valley Outreach provided emergency supplies of clothing to more than 50 people.

Donations are needed. If residents are willing to help, contact Sally at: sally.anderson@valleyoutreachmn.org or by phone at (651) 430-2739, ext. 4.

The Stillwater Police and Fire Departments were assisted by the Bayport, Mahtomedi, Lake Elmo, and Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Departments, and the Bayport, Oak Park Heights and Washington County Law Enforcement.