Jul 20, 2009 5:41 pm US/Eastern
A Person May Have Started Miami Beach Castle Fire
Officials Don't Know Who May Have Started It
It Was Abandoned At The Time Of The Fire
It's Medieval Style, Including Moats, Gargoyles And A Drawbridge
MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) ―
It's been three days since a fire consumed the old Bay Road Castle in Miami Beach; officials are confirming the flames were started by a human being and they're looking for that person.
Friday morning's hellish scene at medieval style castle has been quieted, and it has given way to a gray façade, standing tall, with everything behind it destroyed. Eli Feldman and his neighbors have always despised the mansion, built in 1925, with gruesome statues, a gothic feel, and a moat that used to hold sharks. But they hate it even more now.
"We'd like them to tear down the façade actually, so it stops becoming a tourist attraction," said Feldman. "It's actually become more of a tourist attraction."
Now fire officials are asking for the public's help, because they have ruled that the fire was set by a human being.
"The reason for the detective to think that is that the house was vacant," said Assistant Fire Chief Javier Otero. "There was no electricity, no gas, no source of ignition that could have been there."
Despite signs posted saying investigators believe the fire was set on purpose, fire officials insist they don't know that. It could have been an accident—a cigarette flicked in the wrong place, kids playing around, anything.
And they don't know what has happened inside, because the structure is too unsafe for investigators to go inside.
"I've been in there, and it's not well-built," said Feldman. "It's built more like a Hollywood set than a house, so I don't blame them for not going in there. But they'll have to go in there at some point."
Neighbors are not surprised a human caused this, but they do want to know who it was, and how it went down. It happened just feet away from their families.
"It just shows that someone for whatever gain, is willing to put people's lives in danger for that," said Feldman.
The owner of the castle had planned to have it demolished and sell the land. But
CBS4 News has not confirmed what will happen once the remains of the mansion are brought down.
If you know anything about what caused the fire in this old mansion, call
1-877-NO-ARSON. You could be eligible for a reward.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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