Police investigate 9 arson cases

The latest of the fires - all of them were set in an area near downtown St. Petersburg - involved a house occupied at the time of the blaze.

By LEANORA MINAI

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 28, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Detectives are investigating nine arson fires in a 4-square-block area near downtown.

Eight of the buildings were unoccupied, but the latest fire -- set Sunday -- involved a building that was occupied at the time of the fire.

"The arsonist has kicked it up a notch," said Officer Dan Bates, police spokesman.

No one has been injured since the fires began Nov. 5, and all of the damage has been minor. Still, investigators are concerned the arsonist will start selecting buildings with greater potential for loss of life or property.

"We've been fortunate that people either smelled smoke or noticed it and have been able to call the Fire Department," Bates said.

Police said they have no suspects.

All of the fires have been set in the area from Second and Third avenues S to Fifth and Sixth streets S. In addition, all of the fires have been started outside old wood buildings, and in some cases flammable materials were stuffed in holes in the siding.

"None of these ever caught so that they became a roaring inferno," Bates said.

Two fires occurred Sunday night. Paper inside a trash bin outside Cullen's Sweets & Stuff, a sandwich shop at 330 First Ave. S, was ignited. The trash bin was close to the building so flames scorched the roof. The other fire was at an occupied house, 5431/2 Third Ave. S.

"We and the St. Pete Police Department are looking at it very, very seriously," said fire Lt. Chris Bengivengo.

Investigators do not believe the fires have been set to make money from insurance claims.

"People like fires sometimes for sexual excitement, and other times they like seeing the doors go up on the Fire Department and the trucks go screaming down the street," Bengivengo said.

Last year, the city had 144 arson fires.

Anyone with information is asked to call St. Petersburg police fire investigator Bill Schorn at (727) 892-5212.

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