Blair Mill Fire 'Raises a Red Flag,' Chief Says

Horsham fire officials are working to determine if Sunday's three alarm fire, which took roughly six hours to completely extinguish was intentionally set, or the result of someone flicking a cigarette butt into a flower bed with fresh mulch. 

On Monday morning, Horsham Fire Co. Chief Tim Flanagan, when Patch reminded him of last summer's arson at neighboring Montessori Children's House, and dumpster fire at Keith Valley Middle School, a string of garage fires recently and "suspicious" fires dating back to spring 2012 in the same general vicinity, Flanagan acknowledged that he has concerns that Sunday's fire was intentionally set. 

"It raises a red flag in my head," Flanagan said. "I still have to look at this as an isolated incident."

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Flanagan said the fire could have been sparked by something as innocent as a cigarette butt igniting a pile of mulch. 

"Mulch is crazy," Flanagan said, adding that Sunday's winds fed the fire. "From a fire perspective it’s not good. It’s wood (pressed up against your house)."

Horsham Fire Marshal George Fida was still working to determine a cause, Flanagan said. Patch was unsuccessful in reaching Fida for comment on Monday. 

Flanagan said crews remained at the Blair Mill Apartments' leasing and professional offices until midnight. The fire, which broke out at 1:43 p.m., was not completely extinguished until about 8 p.m., he said. Afterward, crews removed the roof, Flanagan said. 

"We wanted that roof removed," Flanagan said. "I’m sure the second floor, at a minimum, is going to be taken off."

On Monday morning, a crane was still in place and the charred and smoke-smelling building was fenced in. Flanagan said it awaited a closer look from the apartment complex's management company and, most likely, a structural engineer. 

When asked if any of the building appeared to be salvageable, Flanagan said, "It doesn’t from my perspective."