Fire Damages Bill Clinton’s Birthplace; Arson Suspected

Arson is suspected in a fire that heavily damaged the birthplace of Bill Clinton in Hope, Arkansas, reported KSLA, the CBS affiliate in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The fire at the William J. Clinton Birthplace, a National Historic Site, broke out at around 3:20 a.m. Friday morning.

“There’s just evidence and signs that we do believe it was intentionally set,” said Hope Fire Department Chief Dale Glanton. “It will be investigated and handled as a potential arson fire.”

The site is run by the National Parks Service. Other buildings that are on the property, including the National Park headquarters and gift shop, were not affected by the fire.

The house, which was owned by Clinton’s grandparents, is where Clinton spent the first four years of his life.

Glanton said that federal authorities were on their way to Hope to assist local authorities with the investigation