Arson was cause of January fire at abandoned building on Leicester Highway in Asheville, investigators say

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Here’s the update from buncombecounty.org on the Jan. 28 fire at an abandoned building on Leicester Highway in Asheville:

Asheville-Buncombe Crime Stoppers and the Asheville-Buncombe Arson Task Force are offering a joint reward in the amount of $1,500 for any information that leads to an arrest in the arson that occurred at 96 New Leicester Highway in Asheville on January 28.

“On Tuesday, January 28, 2014, at 12:22am, the Asheville Fire Department was called regarding a structure fire at 96 New Leicester Hwy. The Asheville-Buncombe Arson Task Force, along with the Fire Marshal’s office has been conducting the Investigation. The fire cause has been ruled as being an intentional criminal act.

I would like to thank Crime Stoppers for teaming up with the Asheville-Buncombe Arson Task Force to help to find and bring to justice the person, or persons, responsible for the setting of this fire,” David Cutshall, Fire Investigator with the Asheville-Buncombe Arson Task Force stated.

Please contact Asheville Buncombe Crime Stoppers at (828)255-5050 if you have any information regarding this incident.

Fire investigators have several other unsolved arsons on their hands. Last year, there was an arson fire at the old River Arts District Cotton Mill in early April. Soon after, two arson fires were set on the property owned by New Belgium Brewing, where the company is building its new East Coast brewery. There have been no arrests in those cases.

Also, last year was the 15th anniversary of the arson fire that severely damaged the Thomas Wolfe House in downtown Asheville, another case that has never been solved.

Thanks to Jen for the heads-up!