Military man arrested after arson kills Phoenix firefighter

PHOENIX -- A military man from Texas has been arrested in connection with the deadly fire that killed a Phoenix firefighter in March of 2001.

Phoenix Fire Investigator Jack Valentine confirmed that 24-year-old Christopher Benitez, who had been considered an investigative lead in the case for the last year, was arrested in Fort Hood on July 4th.

The victim, 40-year-old Bret Tarver, was inside the burning Phoenix grocery store near 35th Avenue and McDowell Road when he ran out of oxygen.He was pulled out before the building collapsed, but didn't make it.

Now, Deputy Fire Chief Frank Saloman remembers being inside the burning building with Tarver when he heard him yell for help.

"It just sounded like he was right there that you could just reach out and grab him," said Saloman.

As Salomon kept looking for Tarver, he said he came close to death because he lost his hose line.

Salomon's said his breathing apparatus vibrated, which indicated he had just five minutes of air left.

That's when he said he literally bumped into two other lost firefighters inside the dark, smoke-filled grocery store filled with produce all over the floor.

Then, a third firefighter came by and gave Salomon a hose to lead him outside.Saloman said it's a miracle the building kept burning as long as it did, because had the roof collapsed sooner, he believes he and numerous other firefighters could have died.

Valentine said Ft. Hood military police brought Benitez home from a tour of duty in Iraq so he could be arrested for the arson.Firefighters have said Benitez's cousin, Michael Torrez, also admitted to being at the scene the night of the arson.

Valentine said it is up to the Maricopa County Attorney's office to determine whether hey will pursue charges against Torrez as well.The fire began in some trash boxes outside the store, but quickly spread to the supermarket.

Investigators said the arson may have been an act of revenge since Benitez had been arrested for shoplifting at the same store."Bringing him to justice, it's a good feeling," said Salomon.