Six separate “suspicious fires” at two shopping centers in Gaithersburg, Maryland, this weekend leave store and building owners with a lot of work to do next week.
Burnt remains of a car in front of La Frontera restaurant. (Luke Jarrett/WTOP)
Side stairs of a building that caught fire in Gaithersburg, Maryland. (Luke Jarrett/WTOP)
Crews are working to repair El Salvadorino Restaurant after a fire Sunday morning. (Luke Jarrett/WTOP)
Six separate “suspicious fires” at two shopping centers in Gaithersburg, Maryland, this weekend leave store and building owners with a lot of work to do next week.
The spate of fires began around 2:30 a.m. Sunday at the Holbrook Center across from Gaithersburg High School, according to the Montgomery County Fire Department. About an hour later, more fires were reported at another shopping center at 3 Russell Street in Gaithersburg.
“It was difficult to actually come in and see this extensive damage and understand — or even begin to understand — why someone would cause such damage for no particular reason,” said Mary Covell, owner of the building on Russell Street.
A person of interest is in custody, but the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department has not identified the person nor his connection to the fires.
Covell said the fires were worrying affected business owners.
“It’s scary,” Covell said. “It’s scary for them, because it’s so uncertain. They obviously don’t have a job right now.”
Video by Tim Denzel
Among the affected businesses are La Frontera and El Salvadoreño restaurants, both of which serve Salvadoran cuisine. Montgomery County Fire did not comment on whether race played a role in this arson.
When asked what she would say to an arsonist, Covell struggled to find the words.
“Why?” Coville said. “How can you think like that? Do you start a fire just because you want to see the flames? Why do you cause such destruction? I have no words.”
Despite this, Covell said she is confident the building on Russell Street will be back in business.
“The building will be rebuilt, and they will have work again,” Covell said. “Everything will be good.”
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by subscribing here.
© 2023 WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.