By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 5/21/09
A 13-year-old Cape Coral boy attempted to set his home on fire Tuesday evening and has been charged with arson, according to fire and police officials.
Investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office and the Cape Coral Fire and Police Departments determined Robert Archbell purposely set a fire on the lanai of the home, located in the 1500 block of Northeast 35th Terrace, while his friend was inside playing on the computer at about 7 p.m., according to an arrest report.
Robert reportedly told officers he had lit a vase full of gasoline on fire and carried it to the lanai. The fire caused smoke damage and scorching to the lanai area, reports state.
The State Fire Marshal was contacted after a Cape battalion chief discovered a burned shirt in the driveway of the home and a burned piece of paper in the side yard, apparently from previous fire incidents.
Robert's mother told police she did not keep matches or lighters in the home because of previous incidents of Robert playing with fire, according to reports.
Robert told police he lit a toothpick on fire using an electric stove in the home, then used the toothpick to light a candle and the candle to light the gasoline in the vase. An incident with a burning bowl of popcorn caused him to toss the popcorn bowl through the air, knocking the vase to the ground and creating an 8-foot circle of flames, reports state.
Robert's friend said he became aware of the incident when the smoke alarm in the home sounded, and he helped put it out.
Due to the fact that the home was occupied, Robert was charged with first-degree arson and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.
Reports indicate that the Department of Children and Families will follow up on the incident due to the fact that Robert was home without parental supervision.
Showing posts with label arson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arson. Show all posts
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Man injured saving puppies from burning building
by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/11/09
A fire at a Cape Coral business left one man injured as he rushed to save the lives of several pitbull pups which were housed in the building early Friday morning.
The fire, which engulfed Robert Volk II's 2004 Dodge Durango and spread to the roof of Volk Electric, Inc., caused about $175,000 in damages and destroyed approximately 25 percent of the building at about 6:04 a.m., according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
The business is located at 2215 N.E. 10th Terrace. There are no adjacent businesses or homes, and the fire did not cause any additional damage to the area.
Volk II, the son of owner Robert Volk, burned his arm trying to save a mother pitbull and seven puppies. He was taken to the Cape Coral Hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Between Volk II and firefighters, the animals were rescued unharmed.
"(Volk II) got second- and third-degree burns on his arm," Volk said of his son. "When he came out of the building it was so hot that his flesh just drooped off."
Volk II said he had stayed in his father's business the night before because his home was recently foreclosed upon, and woke to find his truck and the business in flames.
After his attempts to stifle the blaze with buckets of water failed, Volk II saved the puppies and was burned in the process.
"It was burning real bad when I came out with the dogs," he said. "The firefighters said the flames were about 1,500 to 1,600 degrees. It melted my skin."
Volk II didn't feel the pain from his injuries at first, but couldn't go back in to save the puppies' mother because the flames had reached the entrance to the business, he said.
Firefighters later rescued the dog.
Though the State Fire Marshal's Office would not say whether they considered the fire suspicious Friday, Volk and his son seemed assured the incident was caused by arson.
"Apparently somebody had lit the car on fire and that caught the building on fire," he said.
Volk II's Durango had also been burglarized prior to the fire, Volk said.
Volk II said he and his father had evidence supporting that the incident was caused by arson.
"We got whoever did it on camera," he said of the business's video surveillance system. "I don't know the guy personally, but it was a younger guy."
As for where Volk II would stay now that his belongings, vehicle and part of his father's business were destroyed, he said he'd likely stay with his girlfriend or family while he sorted out the incident with his insurance.
Volk Electric, Inc. has been housed at its current location for about two years, though the company has been in business in the Cape for nearly 15 years.
Volk said he has no plans to move the business because of the fire.
"Fortunately this side of my shop that my business works out of is still intact," he said. "We're probably going to have to take off about five or six trusses and reroof that part of it and just redrywall it."
The fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office, officials said Friday.
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/11/09
A fire at a Cape Coral business left one man injured as he rushed to save the lives of several pitbull pups which were housed in the building early Friday morning.
The fire, which engulfed Robert Volk II's 2004 Dodge Durango and spread to the roof of Volk Electric, Inc., caused about $175,000 in damages and destroyed approximately 25 percent of the building at about 6:04 a.m., according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
The business is located at 2215 N.E. 10th Terrace. There are no adjacent businesses or homes, and the fire did not cause any additional damage to the area.
Volk II, the son of owner Robert Volk, burned his arm trying to save a mother pitbull and seven puppies. He was taken to the Cape Coral Hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Between Volk II and firefighters, the animals were rescued unharmed.
"(Volk II) got second- and third-degree burns on his arm," Volk said of his son. "When he came out of the building it was so hot that his flesh just drooped off."
Volk II said he had stayed in his father's business the night before because his home was recently foreclosed upon, and woke to find his truck and the business in flames.
After his attempts to stifle the blaze with buckets of water failed, Volk II saved the puppies and was burned in the process.
"It was burning real bad when I came out with the dogs," he said. "The firefighters said the flames were about 1,500 to 1,600 degrees. It melted my skin."
Volk II didn't feel the pain from his injuries at first, but couldn't go back in to save the puppies' mother because the flames had reached the entrance to the business, he said.
Firefighters later rescued the dog.
Though the State Fire Marshal's Office would not say whether they considered the fire suspicious Friday, Volk and his son seemed assured the incident was caused by arson.
"Apparently somebody had lit the car on fire and that caught the building on fire," he said.
Volk II's Durango had also been burglarized prior to the fire, Volk said.
Volk II said he and his father had evidence supporting that the incident was caused by arson.
"We got whoever did it on camera," he said of the business's video surveillance system. "I don't know the guy personally, but it was a younger guy."
As for where Volk II would stay now that his belongings, vehicle and part of his father's business were destroyed, he said he'd likely stay with his girlfriend or family while he sorted out the incident with his insurance.
Volk Electric, Inc. has been housed at its current location for about two years, though the company has been in business in the Cape for nearly 15 years.
Volk said he has no plans to move the business because of the fire.
"Fortunately this side of my shop that my business works out of is still intact," he said. "We're probably going to have to take off about five or six trusses and reroof that part of it and just redrywall it."
The fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office, officials said Friday.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Woman accused of setting fire to Cape Coral home
by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/4/09
A Cape Coral woman intentionally set fire to a Cape Coral rental home Tuesday morning, according to an investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Dawn Marie Cinelli, 44, was charged with 1st-degree arson Friday after admitting to state investigators she had set fire to a bed in the home, located at 1770 Emerald Cove Circle, said city spokesperson Connie Barron.
Cinelli rented at the home with Brian Derby, though Cinelli was the only person in the home when the fire occurred at about 2:21 a.m., officials said. Neighbors said Derby and Cinelli had been renting at the home for approximately six months before the incident.
After 18 local firefighters and six fire units put out the fire, which had fully engulfed the home and caused about $200,000 in damages, they contacted the Lee County Arson Task Force and the State Fire Marshal's Office to investigate the suspicious nature of the fire, Barron said.
"As a result of that investigation, the cause of the fire was determined to be arson," Barron said.
Cinelli did not respond to an interview request by the Breeze.
During an interview between Cinelli and investigators, Cinelli reportedly admitted to setting fire to a bed in the home. Information as to a possible motive for the fire was not available Friday evening.
Cinelli initially told firefighters she awoke to a smoke alarm and fled the home.
Next-door neighbors Charles and Barbara Polandick called 911 after Cinelli knocked on their front door asking for help, they said.
"I feel sorry for her, I really do," Barbara said of Cinelli Friday, after hearing of the alleged arson. "I hope she gets the help she needs in prison. I seem to think I guess a lot of people do things in rage. I don't know, maybe there's more to her life than we know."
The Polandicks watched from outside Tuesday morning as the fire raging in Cinelli's home licked at their house, at 1768 Emerald Cove Circle.
The flames melted a water purifier system that will cost the Polandicks $3,000 to replace, a phone box and roof tiles, as well as burned palm trees that will likely have to be removed, Barbara said.
Now the couple is going through the process of getting quotes for the roof damage and possibly being forced to file a claim with their insurance company, with a $1,000 deductible, she said.
"I said, 'Why should I file a claim?'" Barbara said. "I'm not the one who burned my house down, practically."
Despite the monetary headaches the fire has caused her, Barbara said she's relieved no one was hurt and that the Cape Coral Fire Department acted quickly.
"I can't thank the Fire Department enough for saving my home," she said. "I'm just glad (Cinelli) woke up when she did."
The homeowners, Lawrence and Catherine Dluhos of North Fort Myers, said they didn't know Cinelli or Derby because the home was rented through a managing agency. The Dluhoses are in the process of filing a claim with their insurance company.
Cinelli was held in the Lee County Jail Friday evening without bond, according to jail booking records.
If convicted, Cinelli faces a possible maximum 30 years in prison for the crime.
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/4/09
A Cape Coral woman intentionally set fire to a Cape Coral rental home Tuesday morning, according to an investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Dawn Marie Cinelli, 44, was charged with 1st-degree arson Friday after admitting to state investigators she had set fire to a bed in the home, located at 1770 Emerald Cove Circle, said city spokesperson Connie Barron.
Cinelli rented at the home with Brian Derby, though Cinelli was the only person in the home when the fire occurred at about 2:21 a.m., officials said. Neighbors said Derby and Cinelli had been renting at the home for approximately six months before the incident.
After 18 local firefighters and six fire units put out the fire, which had fully engulfed the home and caused about $200,000 in damages, they contacted the Lee County Arson Task Force and the State Fire Marshal's Office to investigate the suspicious nature of the fire, Barron said.
"As a result of that investigation, the cause of the fire was determined to be arson," Barron said.
Cinelli did not respond to an interview request by the Breeze.
During an interview between Cinelli and investigators, Cinelli reportedly admitted to setting fire to a bed in the home. Information as to a possible motive for the fire was not available Friday evening.
Cinelli initially told firefighters she awoke to a smoke alarm and fled the home.
Next-door neighbors Charles and Barbara Polandick called 911 after Cinelli knocked on their front door asking for help, they said.
"I feel sorry for her, I really do," Barbara said of Cinelli Friday, after hearing of the alleged arson. "I hope she gets the help she needs in prison. I seem to think I guess a lot of people do things in rage. I don't know, maybe there's more to her life than we know."
The Polandicks watched from outside Tuesday morning as the fire raging in Cinelli's home licked at their house, at 1768 Emerald Cove Circle.
The flames melted a water purifier system that will cost the Polandicks $3,000 to replace, a phone box and roof tiles, as well as burned palm trees that will likely have to be removed, Barbara said.
Now the couple is going through the process of getting quotes for the roof damage and possibly being forced to file a claim with their insurance company, with a $1,000 deductible, she said.
"I said, 'Why should I file a claim?'" Barbara said. "I'm not the one who burned my house down, practically."
Despite the monetary headaches the fire has caused her, Barbara said she's relieved no one was hurt and that the Cape Coral Fire Department acted quickly.
"I can't thank the Fire Department enough for saving my home," she said. "I'm just glad (Cinelli) woke up when she did."
The homeowners, Lawrence and Catherine Dluhos of North Fort Myers, said they didn't know Cinelli or Derby because the home was rented through a managing agency. The Dluhoses are in the process of filing a claim with their insurance company.
Cinelli was held in the Lee County Jail Friday evening without bond, according to jail booking records.
If convicted, Cinelli faces a possible maximum 30 years in prison for the crime.
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