By Owen Boss, Matt Stout
The Boston Herald
LAWRENCE, Mass. — An accused “serial arsonist,” who admitted to setting a massive six-alarm fire in Lawrence Thursday that consumed three buildings and displaced 14 people, told his girlfriend he “did a bad thing,” authorities said.
“I did a bad thing ... I set that fire last night,” Jason Given, 43, of Lawrence told his girlfriend after admitting to detectives he set the early-morning fire and four others at the same East Cambridge Street address, adding, “don’t know why,” according to court documents.
Given told police he watched from behind a tree in his backyard as Lawrence firefighters battled the fire, which broke out about 4 a.m. The fire quickly spread from a partially constructed house to a nearby three-car garage and a multifamily home, authorities said.
When confronted with surveillance images that appeared to show his Chevy Sonic leaving the scene shortly before the fire was reported, Givens admitted to police he set the fire and four others at the same location, including one last July, one last December and two this March, court documents show. None of the fires resulted in any injuries, authorities said.
“He told them the building was wide open,” the police report reads. “He further stated he went in through the center door and walked up a set of stairs to the first floor. It was dark inside. He saw some trash. He used a barbecue lighter he brought with him to light the trash.”
Calling Given a “serial arsonist,” state Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said “the people in this neighborhood should sleep a little easier tonight.”
Given was ordered held without bail.
Lawrence City Councilor Marc Laplante called on neighbors to rally behind those displaced by the fire.
“There is relief that the individual who is believed to have caused such emotional and physical anguish in the neighborhood has been caught,” Laplante said. “Now, let’s not forget the immense challenges facing the fire’s victims.”
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