Chamber fire joins list of unsolved arsons on Pine Island
Story Created: Jan 16, 2012 at 6:43 PM America/New_York

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LEE COUNTY, Fla. - Scott Adams says Friday's blaze at the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce was like history repeating itself.

"It makes you think of everything that happened in the past," the restaurant owner says.

A little more than a year ago, his business, Low Key Tiki Bar in St. James City, was the one up in flames. Fire officials ruled it arson.

"In a four-month period, I think we were the fourth arson," Adams says.

Adams rebuilt, but the memory of the loss is still fresh. He says the mystery of what happened at his restaurant is still unsolved, as are some of the other arson fires on Pine Island.

On the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce property, Executive Director Lisa Benton is back to work, handing out pamphlets to tourists in an RV parked next to the charred chamber building.

Benton and other chamber volunteers were able to re-open Monday morning, thanks to many donations from the community.

"We don't have a building, but we have a Chamber of Commerce, and we're going to be stronger than ever," Benton says.

Monday, Chief Craig Brotheim, with the Lee County Arson Task Force, said the State Fire Marshal is handling the chamber's case and the other open investigations on Pine Island. Brotheim said it is too soon to tell whether this latest fire is related any another intentional fire set in the area.

Anyone with information on the Chamber of Commerce fire or any other arson fires can call the state Arson Tip Hotline at 1-877-NO-ARSON. There are money rewards offered for tips that lead to an arrest.


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