Fire at Lancaster Solicitor's Office suspicious

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Updated 11:37 a.m.
LANCASTER -- Investigators are looking into the second suspicious fire at a criminal justice building in Lancaster County this week.

A fire was reported about 4:15 a.m. at Sixth Circuit Solicitor Doug Barfield�s office, on Dunlap Street, across the street from the historic county courthouse that authorities say was torched by an arsonist earlier this week. Investigators have not linked the two incidents together.

The blaze was extinguished quickly, but Lancaster Fire Chief Chris Nunnery said the Solicitor's Office and four other attorneys' offices in the building are damaged. He said it was difficult to tell how long the fire was burning or how it started. No injuries were reported.

On Monday, a fire destroyed parts of the historic 180-year old Lancaster County Courthouse. Investigators believe someone broke in through a front window, went up to the second floor and intentionally set the fire, then escaped by going out the back door. County officials want to try to restore the courthouse.

Police have been patrolling that area since Monday morning's blaze. No arrests have been made in the courthouse fire.

The Lancaster Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff�s Office, State Law Enforcement Division and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating.

Anyone with information about the fire to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-559-TIPS (8477) or the S.C. Insurance News Service arson hotline at 1-800-92ARSON.

WSOC-TV contributed

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