Arson is the cause of two Fargo fires earlier this month

Fargo, North Dakota – Two fires that occurred on May 10 were intentionally set according to the investigators.

One of the fires, where the damage was estimated at $20,000, occurred at 307 7th Avenue North. The two-story apartment building’s front steps had been set on fire. Residents were initially unable to escape.

The second fire, where the damage was estimated to $16,000, occurred in an abandoned building at 1421 2nd Avenue South. By the time the call came in at the fire department, the fire had already hit the roof. Since discovering that squatters have been known to be in the building in the past, fire crews conducted an extensive search.

There are no indications that the fires were connected, according to fire Marshal Ryan Erickson.