Suspect arrested on arson charges after 2 businesses burn in Fort Collins

DENVER ( KDVR ) — Poudre Fire Authority and police are investigating arson as the potential cause of two separate business fires in Fort Collins.

On Friday just before 4 a.m., Poudre Fire tweeted that crews were extinguishing a fire at a business in the 600 block of South College Avenue. The fire traveled up the exterior east side of the building.

Firefighters stopped the extension of the flames and confirmed no injuries were reported.

Simultaneously, crews responded to a second business fire in the 100 block of West Laurel Street. The buildings are only 0.2 miles apart. Both businesses are on the northeast corner of Colorado State University.

Poudre Fire crews were able to extinguish that fire and said no injuries were reported.

After firefighters cleaned up both scenes, Poudre Fire tweeted that the Fort Collins Police Services is investigating the cause of both fires as potential arson.

Poudre Fire Authority Battalion Fire Chief Chris Hill was among the first on the scene of the fires.

“That first fire was an exterior fire that was working its way interior. It was rapidly growing, and it started working its way into the attic space,” Hill said.

Most of the damage at the burger and beer bar was on the second level, according to investigators. By late Friday afternoon, the restaurant bar had reopened. However, news of the fires worried nearby business owners. The Raska International Cuisine Restaurant is next door.

“Well, fire doesn’t have boundaries and consumes most of us our places and our hope and dreams so we have to be cautious,” said Hanna Selassie, Raska’s owner.

The Pizza Casbah is also down the street from the bar.

“It’s absolutely frightening. It is scary to think someone would be into destruction like that,” said Pizza Casbah owner Peter Harvey.

Officers said they looked at surveillance footage to identify the suspect. While searching the area, Fort Collins Police Services received a report of a male trying to break into a residence near the intersection of Howes Street and Laurel Street. Officers said they located the man, who had a large knife and was tampering with an electrical outlet in an attempt to start another fire.

Fort Collins police arrested the suspect. One officer suffered minor injuries during the arrest.

The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Andrew Shaughnessy. He is facing charges of:

• First-degree arson – business- no endanger to life (two counts)
• Second-degree burglary – Forced entry to a building
• Criminal attempt to commit class five or six felony
• Resisting arrest

“We are grateful for the quick response by our partners at PFA, which prevented the fires from spreading. Our officers were able to collect evidence from various scenes that allowed them to locate the suspect, who was continuing to damage property in the area. I’m grateful for the quick and diligent work of our officers to locate and apprehend the suspect before this individual could continue to negatively impact our community,” said Lt. Adam Ruehlen.

Fort Collins police will continue to investigate the fires.

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