Sunday, July 31, 2016

Timothy Brosnan, 57, charged with arson after 3-alarm fire breaks at his Swampscott, Mass. home; up to $700,000 in damages





Homeowner charged with arson after 3-alarm fire breaks at Swampscott, Mass. home; up to $700,000 in damages

By Alexandra Koktsidis Globe Correspondent July 31, 2016

A Swampscott homeowner was arrested and charged with arson on Saturday night after a three-alarm fire tore through his home, town officials said.

Timothy Brosnan, 57, was taken into custody at the scene of the fire at 11 Linden Ave., according to Swampscott Police Lieutenant Joe Kable.

Brosnan is being held, pending bail, and is expected to be arraigned Monday in Lynn District Court, police said.

Firefighters responded to a report of a fire at the home at about 5:45 p.m, Fire Chief Kevin Breen said.

When crews arrived, Brosnan was standing outside of the house, and told firefighters that nobody was inside, Breen said.

Firefighters searched the house and found that it was unoccupied, Breen said.

“Our information was that the family was in another location,” Breen said on Saturday night. “Based on statements made by the owner, the fire was determined to be arson.”

“We don’t know exactly what he did,” Breen said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, he said.

Damages are estimated at $500,000 to $700,000, according to Breen.

“The structural damage is confined to one area,” he said. “The rest of the house may be salvageable.”

Swampscott town property records list Timothy P. and Mary Brosnan as owners of the contemporary-style home. It was built around 2008 and has an assessed value of $791,800, the record states.

Fire crews from Lynn, Marblehead, Nahant, Revere, and Salem provided assistance. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. He is expected to recover.

“We’re very thankful. Everyone did a great job,” Breen said.