Fairfield police make arrests in $400K arson case at Heritage Square Plaza
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — Fairfield police say they've arrested two men accused of setting a fire that caused significant damage to Heritage Square Plaza in December.
Henry Hirsch, 20, of Ridgefield and Samuel Archer, 19, of Plymouth, Massachusetts were both charged with third-degree arson and second-degree reckless endangerment.
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Police said the two were intentionally attempting to set dry leaves on fire in a stairwell at Heritage Square Plaza on the afternoon of Dec. 7, 2024.
The leaves and other debris ignited and quickly escalated into a large fire at the 1700 Post Road building.
The resulting fire caused about $400,000 in damage to the building, police said, noting no injuries were reported.
70-year-old woman charged with arson for Bloomfield apartment complex fire
In a statement Wednesday, police said the incident underscores the 'severe consequences of reckless behavior involving fire.'
'Arson is a serious crime that endangers lives, property, and the safety of the community. The Fairfield Police Department and Fairfield Fire Department urge all residents to exercise extreme caution when handling flammable materials and to educate young people about the dangers of fire,' police said.
Hirsch and Archer were arrested on Feb. 2 and later released on $50,000 bonds, each. They're scheduled to appear at Bridgeport Superior Court on Feb. 10.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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