The half-built Legado Luxury Apartments, the site of recent fiery destruction, was torn down by crews after an alleged arson incident that inflicted millions of dollars in damage, FOX 10 Phoenix reports. The razing of what was intended to be 700 high-end living spaces came as authorities are ramping up efforts to track down the suspected arsonist responsible for the conflagration.
On the scene, Prescott Valley Police and Yavapai Silent Witness continue their search for the suspect involved in arson, aggravated criminal damage, burglary, and trespassing at the Legado development and nearby Bradshaw Mountain High School; with the caveat that they are contending with predawn calamity chaos that emanated from a "loud bang" heard before blaze engulfed everything, the police lieutenant said the resulting fire was the largest in Prescott Valley's history, “I believe we had fire engines from Sedona, Cottonwood come help us fight this fire. Prescott Fire, our neighbors of course came to help us fight this fire as well,” Kathy Goodman of the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority, told azfamily.com.
The catastrophic event, which resulted in an estimated $60 million in losses, has not only piqued the determination of local law enforcement agencies but has also drawn the attention of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which is offering a $10,000 reward alongside the Yavapai Silent Witness's $40,000 enticement for information leading to the perpetrator's apprehension, as stated by authorities. Tips are being solicited by Yavapai Silent Witness, which can be reached at 1-800-932-3232.
Brad Fain, President and CEO of Fain Signature Group, conveyed the impact of this disaster, affecting over 200 workers amidst already challenging economic times, “At this time, our focus is the health and safety of our first responders, residents, and business owners in the immediate area. We are working closely with CAFMA (Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority), Prescott Valley Police Department, and YCSO (Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office) to ensure they have all the information they need to determine the cause of the fire currently under investigation. In gratitude, we can’t say enough about the effort, risk, and professionalism of CAFMA, Prescott Valley Police Department, YCSO, and supporting agencies in the region who successfully prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent structures. We are following the lead of CAFMA and Prescott Valley Police Department at this time to ensure the site is secured as firefighting and public safety efforts continue to take place. In addition, our hearts go out to over 200 workers, trades, and professionals that have been impacted by this loss in these challenging economic times.” Fain stated, as azfamily.com reported.