Fire Marshals Arrest Man in Connection with 3-Alarm Fire

Chiu Tsang

FDNY fire marshals arrested Chiu Tsang on March 14, in connection to a 3-alarm fire at 510 61st St. in Brooklyn on March 13.

"Our firefighters, paramedics and EMTs did an incredible job rescuing and treating those injured in what was a very dangerous and chaotic fire early Sunday morning," said Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano. "The great work by our members continued as our fire marshals worked tirelessly throughout the day and night to arrest a very dangerous arsonist."

Mr. Tsang, 56, who lives several blocks from the fire building was arrested by fire marshals after they reviewed video surveillance tapes of the fire. He was identified at the fire scene and, upon questioning, made several incriminating admissions to fire marshals.

The fire was first reported at 5:12 a.m. and the first units arrived on scene in approximately three minutes.

The fire was set in the first floor entranceway of the four-story apartment building and extended up the stairwell to every floor. It took more than 140 firefighters more than two hours to bring the fire under control.

Twenty-three residents of the building were injured, four of them critically. In addition, eight firefighters were injured while operating at the fire, including several who were injured by an interior collapse of the stairwell where the fire was set.

Mr. Tsang faces charges of arson, criminal mischief and multiple counts of assault. The investigation is ongoing.

"This depraved act of setting a fire in a fully occupied building, during the early morning hours will not be tolerated in our city," said Chief Fire Marshal Robert Byrnes. "I would like to commend our fire marshals, whose quick actions led to the timely identification and apprehension of this individual."