Following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, a 31-year-old Dorchester man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with two major arson fires—including one in Chelsea—that he allegedly set in quick succession.
State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, Everett Fire Chief David Butler, Chelsea Fire Chief Robert Better Jr, Everett Police Chief Steven Mazzie, and Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes made a joint announcement late last week regarding the arrest of Alfred J. Jordan, 31 of Dorchester, in relation to the two recent arson incidents.
In Chelsea, Jordan faces Suffolk County charges for igniting a fire in the early morning of Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 227 Washington Avenue after an altercation with his girlfriend at that location.
Authorities believe Jordan then set a second fire shortly thereafter at 187 Elm Street, Everett, where his girlfriend was present. For this incident, he faces Middlesex County charges including one count of burning a dwelling and four counts of attempted murder.
The Chelsea fire inflicted approximately $50,000 in damages to the five-unit residential structure and injured one firefighter. The presence of working smoke alarms proved critical, as all 15 residents escaped without injury.
The Everett fire completely destroyed the 3-family building, causing $350,000 in damages and spreading to three additional residences and one commercial building. Working smoke alarms again prevented injuries to the four occupants of the building where the fire originated, though one firefighter was hurt.
The Everett Police Department successfully rescued the first floor tenant, who has only one leg.
Investigators from multiple agencies, including State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, trained fire investigators from both the Chelsea and Everett Fire Departments, and detectives from the Chelsea and Everett Police Departments, collaborated on these investigations. The Middlesex District Attorney will prosecute the Everett case while the Suffolk District Attorney will handle the Chelsea prosecution.