Wait! Was the same guy responsible for the APA fire in 2005 or 2006? Also in DC. Someone started a small fire with a cigarette, in the elevator lobby on the 2nd floor, iirc.

Indeed in the same hotel. I don't know what to think about that. On the one hand, a really weird coincidence if it was a coincidence. On the other hand, January 2006- August 2014 is a weirdly long gap. On the third hand, Pitts arrived at AU in September 2005.