Arson Spree Plagues West Virigina City

June 21, 2006
Wheeling residents are anxious after 11 house fires have been ruled arson.

Arson is the reason 11 homes in Mozart are badly damaged or destroyed.

This weekend, another fire claimed a home on Frazier Avenue.

Residents say they're worried sick and they've had enough.

Debbie Givens of Mozart said, "Our minds are not at ease, and it won't be until they find them. Someone is doing this evidently. I don't know if it's because it's up here that they're not concerned but it's happening."

Wheeling Fire Chief Steve Johnston said, "They should be concerned. We're asking them always to be more vigilant and we have firefighters that live in the neighborhood who traverse the roadways up there all the time."

Investigators have also noticed similarities in every arson case.

"These fires are occurring in a small radius and they happen to be occurring about the same time of day. There's a four-hour time window we're working with," said Johnston.

Until the suspects are caught, folks pray for the safety of themselves and their neighbors.

"You can't sleep. I have a bunch of old relatives around here," said Givens. "The whole lane is relatives practically and it's just scary to think they could lose everything."

Allison Latos, NEWS9

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