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This is getting scary now. This is at least four arsons in a couple weeks span, plus many other fires that haven't really been explained too well...

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=54065.42

Two Fires Believed To Be Arson

From Staff Reports

MICHIGAN CITY - Firefighters and police officers were kept busy during the weekend with two fires - both suspected to be arson - that erupted fewer than 24 hours of each other.

Police responded to a fire at 8:15 a.m. Saturday at 110 Thomas St. On arrival, they discovered smoke coming from a second-story window. No one was inside the house at the time, and no injuries were reported.

The Michigan City Fire Department arrived on scene and extinguished the fire. The house suffered smoke and water damage.

According to police reports, Fire Marshal Brandon Brooks reported evidence of arson. Brooks said the origin of the fire was in an upstairs bedroom, where someone set the carpet on fire. The blaze spread to a bed's wood frame, then through the entire mattress. Brooks said there were no extension cords or electrical devices that shorted, nor any other explanation for how the fire started.

At 12:30 a.m. Sunday, police and fire departments responded to a structure fire at 1107 Buffalo St.

According to police reports, officers found the residence vacant. Neighbors stated no one lived there.

Assistant Fire Chief Mike Osborne told police there was evidence of arson. Firefighters found several areas in the upper and lower levels of the house where card board and an accelerant were used.

On Aug. 7, two residential fires along Kentucky Street were ruled arsons, and authorities were investigating several vehicles destroyed by fire nearby.

[Southsider2k12]

Here is a letter to the ND soundoff section on this very topic. Where is the outrage and demands for action?

Arson
I would like to voice my concerns about the serious arson problems of our city is facing that seems to be going totally unnoticed by many of our city officials. After visiting out of town friends last evening. Upon returning to our home near 11th and buffalo around 1:45am sunday morning. We were greeting by the flash of lights from police and fire units for the 3rd time in just over a month. Another empty house was ablaze in the 1100 block of Buffalo St. This is 3rd incident within just a few hundred feet in less than a month. Not including the recent homes set ablaze on Kentucky st. During the same time period. Not to mention numerous other house and garage fires set throughout the north end over the last year or so!!!!! We have a SERIOUS problem here FOLKS!!!!!!!! Why is this NOT receiving much more attention from our city officials???? How many more city residents need to lose their lives before our city and state officials step up and do more. Yes detectives have been around asking questions. But questions cannot always solve every case. Sometimes those officials need to take to the streets in less a conspicuous manner to keep a closer eye on things. Maybe its time Mr Mayor to ORDER some sincere effort be put into solving this problem to public safety. Maybe even ask for some state or federal help before the loss becomes even greater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Southsider2k12]

Now they are starting to finally talk about a serial arsonist. Maybe now we will get somewhere on this.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=50011.26

Another Fire Is Intentionally Set
Apparent arson called ‘scary.’

Rick Richards
City Editor, The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Members of the Michigan City Fire Department are worried an arsonist is on the loose in the city.

That concern was voiced Thursday when, for the second time since Aug. 19, firefighters were called to a blaze at a vacant two-flat at 1107 and 1101 1/2 Buffalo St.

Although the fire was quickly extinguished, department spokesman Larry Butcher said there was no doubt it was intentionally set. He said someone broke into the vacant apartment building's front door, went upstairs, poured some sort of an accelerant in a front bedroom and started the fire.

"It was all done in broad daylight," Butcher said. "That's scary."

The fire, reported at 9:24 a.m., was extinguished within minutes and firefighters were cleaning up by 10:40 a.m.

Fire Chief Dave Lamb also expressed concern about the number of fires the department has responded to at vacant buildings.

Lamb pointed out three suspicious fires the night of Aug. 7, two of them along Kentucky Street. One was at a vacant house, but the other was at a house where nine people were inside. Also that night, a few blocks away, two vehicles in a yard were set on fire.

In addition, there also was a fire at a vacant building on Ninth Street, Lamb said. Because the two-story building was only a few feet from two neighboring buildings, and near the South Shore Railroad tracks, Lamb called for help from all the city's fire stations.

Butcher said that is routine. While the extra firefighters weren't needed, he said, "It's better safe than sorry."

According to Lamb, no utilities were serving the building, which immediately made firefighters suspect the cause of the fire was intentional.



Contact Rick A. Richards at news@thenewsdispatch.com.

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http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...;ArticleID=4214

More Fires Investigated
Woman reports having been doused with fuel at a gas station prior to her mobile home burning.
MICHIGAN CITY - Police officers and firefighters were kept busy Saturday night with two structure fires - one of which left a woman injured.

That woman reported she'd been doused with fuel earlier in the day.

Shortly after 9 p.m., Michigan City police responded to a possible structure fire at Dunewood Trailer Park, 170 Indiana 212. Upon arrival, officers found a mobile home at Lot 59 fully engulfed in fire.

Flames, according to police reports, peaked at 30 feet in the air.

Witnesses told police that a woman evacuated the residence and no one else was inside. The resident, Alister Raven Lavey, 36, was treated by EMS at the scene and transported to St. Anthony Memorial for burns to her face.

Lavey reported that earlier in the day she'd been sprayed with fuel at a gas station along U.S. 212.

"She made an allegation about that," MCPD Det. Cpl. Tony McClintock said Sunday. "We're still looking at that."

Authorities have not determined what caused that fire.

"I'll be working with the fire marshal early this week," McClintock said.

Responding to the fire were Michigan City Fire Department, Michiana Fire Department and La Porte County EMS. Michigan City Animal Control was also called to the scene to retrieve a cat that came out of the trailer.

The cat was found and discovered to be very badly burned and in grave condition.

At about the same time, Michigan City police responded to a structure fire at 412 E. Ninth St.

A number of suspicious fires have been reported on the West Side of Michigan City during the past month.

Upon arriving at the house, officers were flagged down by a neighbor who was spraying the house with a garden hose. Police observed the fire at the northwest corner of the house and noticed it appeared to be coming from the basement.

The house, according to police, appeared to be vacant, however it was unknown if anyone was inside because a rear window near the fire was open. Officers forced the front door open to check for anyone inside.

Officers observed smoke coming from a heating duct, but could not find a way to access the basement or the upstairs from inside the house. Police were eventually able to find a door to the basement on the outside of the house, but could not find a source for the fire.

The MCFD was eventually able to extinguish the fire by tearing away some of the wood siding.

Both fires are under investigation.

Anyone with information on the recent suspicious activities should call the police department at 874-3221.

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http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=41914.51

Police Agree: Fires Suspicious

Georgette Senter
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Police said Friday that investigators have been working for several weeks to find clues to help them find out who is behind a series of suspicious fires that have occurred on the city's West Side.

Capt. Tom Howe, head of the Detective Bureau, said the most recent fire at 9:24 a.m. Thursday at a two-flat at 1107 Buffalo St., has been added to his growing list.

Howe said his list includes two structure fires from the 1600 and 1300 blocks of Kentucky Street that were set before dawn on Aug. 7. Also that day at 3:15 a.m., a vehicle was set ablaze in the 1100 block of Wabash Street just a few blocks east of the structure fires.

Although the house in the 1600 block of Kentucky Street was empty, the home in the 1300 block was the residence of a family of nine, including small children. Officer Rob Grant rescued three children after going into the burning house twice to get them.

On Aug. 10, two more suspicious fires were reported, one at 1107 Buffalo St., the scene of Thursday's fire, and a house at 110 Thomas St., on the city's East Side.

Howe said of the five fires on the city's West Side, "The locations of these fires are the only thing we have presently to connect them to each other and the fact that all are of a suspicious nature."

Detective Cpl. Tony McClintock is the lead investigator. Anyone who has information on any of the fires can call him at 874-3221.

Contact Georgette Senter at gsenter@thenewsdispatch.com.