Swastikas found on burned buildings

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Fire investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying an arsonist who defaced two buildings in East Providence with swastikas and set them on fire.

The first swastikas were found Wednesday on a building that fire officials said was deliberately set on fire.  Three firefighters were hurt putting out the fire.

Firefighters responded to another fire early Sunday morning at a home in Rumford. Authorities found swastikas and a racial slur against blacks spray-painted on the building. The house was heavily damaged.

City fire marshal Oscar Elmasian said people in the home could have been killed.

“It’s very disturbing. And to think that crimes like this exist, especially in the residential fire that was set on the means of egress from the second-floor of this house with people in the house, small children in the house,“ Elmasian said.

Firefighters put out the flames before anyone was hurt.

Investigators are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the crime. The state fire marshal’s arson hot line is 401-462-4242.

NBC 10 News contributed to this report.