Earlier today, officers patrolling the 500 block of Union Street encountered a large fire threatening a residential building, leading them to a suspect and a potential disaster averted. According to the Springfield Police Department's report, the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. and involved a multi-family home with 16 people inside.
Officials stated the detained suspect, running from the scene with a gasoline can in hand, was promptly detained by the officers who extinguished the fire. The individuals at risk, all found inside the home, were safely evacuated without any reported injuries.
The suspect involved in this potentially deadly incident is a 16-year-old girl, who is now in custody. As a protocol for juvenile suspects, Springfield Police have withheld her name, photograph, and the specific charges pressed against her.
The Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad has taken the reins of the investigation, looking to uncover the motives behind the act and to determine the full extent of the event's circumstances.
