Tulsa Business Owners Offering Reward In Arson

Tulsa Fire Department - and the owners of Building Specialties of Tulsa - want to catch whoever set the business on fire earlier this month. 

Tuesday, July 29th 2014, 3:16 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Business Owners Offering Reward In Arson

An east Tulsa business is raising the stakes to catch an arsonist after fire destroyed their building. They’re now offering a cash reward to anyone with information.

The fire began early Sunday, July 20, 2014, at 12595 East 61st Street. It caused about $500,000 in damages.

"This whole area right here is the second floor office and storage space and that was all completely gutted," said Fire Investigator, Captain Scott Winford.

Winford and his team of fire investigators are trying to find an arsonist. A week ago Tulsa and Broken Arrow fire departments responded to Building Specialties to find the company's top floor on fire.

Investigators believe someone cut through the fence, climbed up to the second floor, broke into the main office and set a fire.

"It's kind of crazy when you get a call in the middle of the night and you lose your business to arson," said Chad Corbitt with Building Specialties.

For the past week, Corbitt relocated all of his office staff to a temporary trailer nearby.

"I'm truly fortunate and blessed to have a great team here, our guys have all rallied around and just done a great job," he said.

Despite the considerable fire and water damage, business never stopped; customers are getting orders filled and deliveries are being made.

"We've got great customers, they've been very understanding. We haven't missed a beat," said Corbitt.

The fire investigation is ongoing and now a $5,000 reward is being offered to anyone who has information about what happened. Investigators are hoping someone will call in a tip.

"Either they saw something, heard something, know something, anything at all about the fire itself," said Winford.

Corbitt just wants closure and peace of mind that someone will eventually be put behind bars.

"We want to get to the bottom of this and bring to justice anyone who's responsible," he said.

The Tulsa Fire Department has a special arson hotline where you can make an anonymous tip. The number is 918-596-ARSN.