LORTON, VA — Six people have been charged in connection with a June fire that caused an estimated $1 million to $1.3 million in damage at a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department training facility in Lorton, police said.
Fairfax County Police said three adults and three 17-year-olds have been charged with burglary and trespassing following a joint investigation involving the police department, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department's Office of the Fire Marshal and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Police identified the adult suspects as Ricky Torres, 26, of Fairfax; Brice Bartley, 18, of Fairfax; and Aidan Smith, 18, of Clifton. Police did not identify the juveniles because of their ages.
Fire Was Previously Classified As Arson
The charges stem from a fire reported around 5:20 p.m. June 27 at a training facility in the 9000 block of Furnace Road in Lorton.
Firefighters arrived to find a storage facility containing heavy equipment engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported.
RELATED: Fire at Fairfax USAR Training Facility Was Arson, Chief Davis Says
As Patch previously reported, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said days after the fire that investigators had determined the blaze was intentionally set and classified it as arson. Surveillance images of several people who were at the facility around the time of the fire were released as investigators sought the public's help identifying them.
The building is part of the county's Urban Search and Rescue training complex, where Virginia Task Force 1 trains for responses to building collapses, natural disasters and other emergencies.
According to police, the department's Real Time Crime Center reviewed surveillance footage showing several people entering the facility before the fire and leaving after it began.
Police and fire investigators later released video of the incident to the public. The release generated several tips through Crime Solvers of Fairfax County, police said.
Tips, License Plate Readers Helped Identify Suspects
Information from the public, combined with Flock license plate reader technology, helped investigators identify a vehicle connected to the case and develop additional leads, according to police.
Detectives, fire marshals and ATF investigators then reviewed additional digital evidence that led them to identify six suspects, police said.
In the early morning hours of Sept. 3, detectives, FCPD specialty units, the Fire Marshal's Office and ATF simultaneously executed search and arrest warrants at three residences.
Torres was arrested on burglary and trespassing charges and initially held on a $1,000 secured bond, which he later posted, police said.
Bartley was arrested on burglary and trespassing charges and was being held without bond.
Smith was arrested on the same charges and initially held on a $1,000 secured bond, which he later posted.
Three 17-year-olds were also each charged with burglary and trespassing.
Police said additional charges are anticipated. Although authorities previously classified the fire as arson, the police release announcing the arrests did not report arson charges against any of the six suspects.
Detectives continue to ask anyone with information about the fire to call the West Springfield District Station at 703-644-7377 and ask to speak with a detective.
Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Crime Solvers of Fairfax County through its website, the P3Tips app or by calling 866-411-8477.
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