RFD looking for suspect for allegedly setting an intentional house fire on Fifth Street

Rochester, N.Y. — The Rochester Fire Department are searching for an unknown person who intentionally set a house fire on Fifth Street that injured a firefighter.

RFD says the house fire overnight Tuesday was intentionally set by an unknown person, who was seen arriving on a bike and entering the home and leaving going south bound on Fifth Street.

Fire crews responded around 12:30 a.m. and reported flames from the second story of a wood-frame home.

Crews had to back off from their initial interior attack when several firefighters received electrical shocks from exposed wires and were treated by ambulance crews on scene. One firefighter was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital with second-degree burns to his arms. It’s unclear if the burns were from high heat or exposure to electrical energy.

Crews knocked down the flames from outside the home, allowing them to re-enter and put out the rest of the fire.

Despite initial reports that people were inside the home, crews said they found no one inside.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 585-423-9300.