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Video footage obtained by Fairfield Police has shown that an accelerant, such as gasoline or diesel, was used to commit a possible arson, officially ruling out a possible mechanical or natural cause for the fire.
According to police, the severity of the crime is raised by the bar's proximity to the Inn at Fairfield Beach and the condominiums located on the street directly behind the Seagrape Cafe: College Place.
According to employees at the Inn at Fairfield Beach, the two long-term clients staying at the Inn on the early morning of Oct. 31 did not have to be evacuated for the fire, as was the case during a bomb threat that occurred a week earlier.
At 4:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 31, Fairfield Fire Department received a water flow alarm from the Seagrape Cafe, indicating either a signal malfunction or that a sprinkler system had been activated, Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Tracy said.
Engine 1 responded to a small alleyway behind the Seagrape that directly abuts the Inn at Fairfield Beach about six minutes after the alarm, reports said. According to fire officials, Engine 1 was able to feed a hose through an exhaust fan in the back of the building that was off of the room where the fire was being “kept in check” by the Seagrape’s sprinkler system.
Then using a circular saw to gain entrance into the “green room” where the fire started, the first responders were able to completely extinguish the flames, Tracy said. By his estimates, “the bulk of the fire” was knocked down by 5:06 a.m., about 20 minutes after the initial alarm.
Police are working with Fairfield Fire Department, the owners of the Seagrape Cafe and Fairfield University’s Department of Public Safety to determine a suspect.
“We don’t believe at this time it is a Fairfield University student,” Police Lt. James Perez said.
Perez said police have ruled out anyone involved in a recent breach of peace or a fight at the establishment. However, they have not officially ruled out any connection with the bomb threat made a week earlier through Fairfield University’s DPS.
Neighbor Mile Stevens, a former manager of the Seagrape Cafe, said he is shocked about the recent incidents.
“There were always a lot of kids down here, but there was never this kind of trouble ... nothing malicious,” Stevens said.
The 10-year manager of the Seagrape, who ended his employment at the bar when it was sold in 2011, said he was awoken on the morning of the fire by the alarm company, which was checking to see whether the fire had jumped to Stevens’ home, which abuts the Seagrape to the right.
The Class of 2015 "is a lot calmer than others,” Stevens said. “It’s just this craziness that’s going on.”
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