Three overnight fires ruled arson

Steve Jefferson/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - Three of the four fires fought overnight have been ruled arson.

Fire investigators have been out canvassing the area and talking to residents. They say they are determined to find those responsible for these fires.

Firefighters were kept busy Monday night and into Tuesday morning on the near west side as crews fought four working fires within a five hour span.

The first happened just after 11:00 pm in the 2500 block of Lafayette Road. When firefighters arrived, they found a fire in a construction trailer at Midwest Auto Sales. The trailer is used as the office for business.

That fire, which caused an estimated $5,000 in damages, was later ruled an arson.

According to firefighters, this is the second time in two weeks they have had a fire at this location.

"After that, starting at about 2:45 in the morning, we had three subsequent fires in about a two-mile radius," said IFD Capt. Rita Reith.

The second fire broke out just before 3:00 am in a garage at 2502 N. Harding and was also ruled arson.

The detached garage was behind a single story home. Firefighters got the flames under control in about 15 minutes, but the garage burned hot enough to melt the siding off of the house across the alley.

The garage is a total loss at $10,000 and the exposure house damage is estimated at $8,000.

"When they were on the garage fire, somebody ran up to them to say the house at 25th and Barnes was on fire," said Capt. Reith.

Firefighters sent a crew to the area and found the vacant house with heavy fire coming from behind. The house appears to be undergoing renovations.

Crews knocked out the fire in about 12 minutes, but damage is estimated at $50,000. The cause of that fire is undetermined at this time.

Firefighters were heading back to the station when they got called to a fourth fire at 4:45 am. This fire was also at a vacant house fire located at 27th and Riverside. That was later ruled as arson.

Neighbors say that this property was listed on the city's tax sale site. Damage is estimated at $80,000.

"It's a big house. We stayed there. My mother passed away two years ago and after that, we had the house up for sale," said M.L. Allen.

Several of the crews, that responded to these fires, were dispatched to all four. One firefighter pulled a muscle.

IFD and IMPD investigators are looking into all the fires.

"When the house fires are set over and over, that becomes extremely dangerous and that is a big concern for firefighters," said Capt. Reith.

As part of the arson investigation, firefighters are relying heavily on clues from the public. After putting out the fires, they put up reward posters. Crime Stoppers is ready to pay big money for clues leading to an arrest.

"I'd like to see them catch them. I don't want to see my place on fire. I've got too much to lose," said one neighbor, Charlie.

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