PHOENIX — A burned-out hulk still stands and is a daily reminder that a Phoenix firefighter lost his life seven years ago battling an arson fire there.
Now, there's word that arrests may be imminent in the death of Phoenix firefighter Bret Tarver, according to Phoenix Fire Department investigators.
The inferno that claimed Tarver's life started in a mound of trash behind a Southwest Supermarket, then roared out of control inside. Tarver got tangled in debris in the back of the store and became disoriented.
Rescuers pulled his body out of the fire just minutes before the building collapsed.
An autopsy later revealed Tarver died of burns and smoke inhalation. Tarver, 40, left behind a wife and three young daughters.
Investigators said they have identified two investigative leads. One is a soldier stationed at Fort Hood, Texas; the other is a man serving time in the Arizona Department of Corrections for an unrelated charge.
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The men, who are cousins, claimed they saw the early stages of the fire as it smoldered behind the supermarket in the afternoon of March 14, 2001, said Phoenix Fire Capt. Willie Nelson.
Neither admitted setting it. Still, investigators believe the men played an active role.
"There's been no rush to judgment on these guys," said Jack Ballentine, director of the Fire Investigations Unit. "We've looked at a lot of people over time and determined they weren't responsible," he said. "It wasn't until now that such consistent evidence has risen. With that, everybody feels comfortable we're dealing with the right people."
To discuss a case before an arrest is unusual. But Nelson and Ballentine said Wednesday that an information leak forced them to go public.
Ballentine said they have probable cause to make arrests on suspicion of arson of an occupied structure.
Conviction carries penalties ranging from probation to 21 years in prison.
"It feels extremely good to be at this point," Nelson said. "I can't tell you how, as an investigator, to bring something to closure like this, I don't think it gets any bigger than that. But at the same time, there's pressure that comes along with making sure you do diligent work, making sure you get it all done."
As for the site of the fire, plans had called for a library to be built there.
