Fire destroys homes in Fresno’s historic Old Armenian Town

A pre-dawn fire Thursday destroyed two historic homes in Fresno’s Old Armenian Town, where investigators believe transients are living.

The flames swept through the homes and heavily damaged other parts of the site on M Street at the Highway 41 overpass, on the south edge of downtown Fresno. Fresno Fire spokesman Shane Brown said the blaze erupted about 12:30 a.m.

Brown said flames were pouring out of one home when first units arrived, and the fire quickly spread to a second house.

There are multiple buildings on the site, and Brown said that all of the buildings, which are surrounded by a metal fence, have been broken into previously.

Clothes, food and other items were spread about other buildings.

Brown said while arson is difficult to prove, investigators believe the fire was intentionally set.

Acclaimed novelist William Saroyan grew up in the district after Armenians fled a genocide at the hands of Turkish troops in the early 1900s.

The homes were part of a major seven-acre development, where plans include an Armenian museum and a multi-story commercial office building. The historic homes and other buildings were moved to the site as part of the display.

Varoujan Der Simonian, who has been involved with the development of the project for several decades, said he has been concerned for some time about the security of the project. He said he was able to work with the city to get the fence placed around it, but added that having security personnel would probably help, as well.

Der Simonian said he hopes the area can be a project to highlight the cultural diversity of not only the Armenian people, but others who have made the central San Joaquin Valley their home.

Efforts to reach The Penstar Group, the current developer of the property, were unsuccessful.

This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 7:59 AM.