Man Arrested In Connection To 4-Alarm Fire That Devoured Thrifty Irishman In Port Richmond, Authorities Say

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A man has been arrested in connection to a massive and destructive four-alarm warehouse fire. But there are also a number of unanswered questions.

The Thrifty Irishman thrift store is a massive property at 2226 E. Butler St in Port Richmond. It's now dark and essentially gutted, all due to one man with a mysterious purpose.

Philadelphia resident Joseph Wolbert has been arrested and charged in connection to the massive April 7 fire that overtook the re-purposed warehouse. Thrifty Irishmen sold clothing and furniture, but it was all destroyed that Sunday night.

That fire reached four alarms with the heavy, black smoke billowing and visible for miles. It took more than 150 firefighters and more than 12 hours to extinguish those flames.

According to investigators from the ATF Philadelphia Arson and Explosives Task Force, Wolbert was involved in sparking the incident. Investigators would not say his exact connection to the fire.

Damages have been estimated at over $2 million. Wolbert has been charged with arson and other offenses.

Wolbert is currently being held on $100,000 bond.