Fire Marshals Arrest Suspect for Two Fires Set Inside Occupied Brooklyn Apartment Building in One Week

June 17, 2020

Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro announced today that Fire Marshals arrested Yevgeniy Kotlyarov, 38, for arson related to two separate fires in a 24-story apartment building at 2780 West 5th Street in Brooklyn on June 11 and June 15. The two incidents were captured on a camera on the door of an apartment.

“I commend our Fire Marshals for their outstanding investigative work to apprehend a suspect who twice showed a callous disregard for the lives of New York City residents and our Firefighters by starting fires in a building occupied by hundreds of people,” said Commissioner Nigro. “Using fire to hurt others or destroy property will not be tolerated in our city.”

On June 11, Kotlyarov is alleged to have set fire in the hallway in front of two apartments on the seventh floor of 2780 West 5th Street in Brooklyn at approximately 6:30 p.m. Twenty units and more than 80 FDNY members responded to extinguish the fire and check for reports of smoke conditions on numerous floors throughout the building. One building resident and one Firefighter suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Kotlyarov is alleged to have set fire to the same location again on June 15 at approximately 10 p.m. Again, 20 units and more than 80 FDNY members responded to bring the fire under control. This instance resulted in one non-life threatening injury to a resident. Fire Marshals investigated and obtained video footage of the incidents, which led to the arrest.

Video of the incident on June 11, 2020 

Video of the incident on June 15, 2020

Kotlyarov is charged with multiple counts of arson, burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief. The case will be prosecuted by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office.