The Gamma Beta Housing Corporation is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with information leading to an arrest in the arson attacks that occurred two months ago at the Pi Kappa Alpha and Beta Theta Pi fraternity houses at the U.
Nick Gilson, spokesperson for the corporation (which rents the Beta Theta Pi house to the fraternity members), said the money, funded by the group’s insurance policy, is an attempt to gain closure in the case.
“We just really feel strongly that whoever was responsible for this needs to be brought to justice,” he said.
The “intentionally set” fires happened in the early morning on July 3 with the first at Pi Kappa Alpha at 4:13 a.m. Responding crews from the Salt Lake City Fire Department believe someone entered into the house through an unlocked door and used an accelerant, such as gasoline, to start a fire in the fraternity’s third floor game room.
Though the two may be unconnected, a second fire broke out minutes later down the street at Beta Theta Pi. The arsonist in this house came in through the basement and started a fire in the laundry room. A fire suppression system stopped the flames before reaching a natural gas line and water heater, which could have caused an explosion.
No one was injured in either fraternity — in fact, several members were gone on summer vacations at the time.
The Pi Kappa Alpha house fire resulted in $60,000 in damage. Chase Fratto, the fraternity’s president, said alumni rallied around the group and helped raise about $10,000 to repaint the walls and install new floors. Construction crews should be finished with the repairs in the next two weeks.
Beta Theta Pi President Kevin Shields said his house suffered mostly from water damage. The fraternity had to replace moldings, install new carpet, put in a new back door and repaint. Shields could not provide a cost estimate, but said it was “fairly substantial” yet “could have been a lot worse.”
“It’s still a little frightening that somebody entered our home and another home to do harm and damage,” he said.
Aggravated arson, which includes attacking a home with the intent to injure occupants, is punishable by five or more years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Gilson believes the reward money will incentivize people with knowledge of the incident to speak to law enforcement officials about the perpetrator(s).
“We’re hoping that given the magnitude of the crime that was committed that somebody knows something and is willing to share that information,” he said. “We are so grateful that nobody was injured in either of these fires, but the reality is that people could have been killed.”
The fire department has a few leads in the case, but was unable to provide details because of its ongoing investigation, said spokesperson Jasen Asay. If you have information on the case call the Salt Lake City Fire Prevention Bureau at 801-799-4150.
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