A fire in a vacant Lakewood gas station that sent one person to the hospital late Monday night was human-caused, West Metro Fire Rescue officials said Thursday.
The fire started in the northeast corner of the former car wash, service garage and gas station near West Alameda Avenue and South Harlan Street, West Metro officials said in a post on X.
Fire officials said the roughly two dozen people living inside the abandoned building were homeless and on Tuesday posted a photo of a tent and cot found inside.
Investigators have identified a person of interest in the fire, according to the agency.
The building is owned by Quick N Clean 84 LLC out of Scottsdale, Arizona, Jefferson County property records show. Company officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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