Coatesville's Burning
Another day, another arson.
Chuck Williams
This is the porch that was torched in the suspected arson fire.
The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the arsons in Coatesville is up to $5,000.
Coatesville Police Department held a Press Conference today to discuss the numerous cases of arson that have occurred in 2009.
There have been 13 fires so far this year in Coatesville.
Fire investigators believe all of the fires were arson.
Coatesville area firefighters are recovering from yet another night of extinguishing intentionally set fires in the city.
The latest fires happened within minutes of each other just before midnight Wednesday.
Around 11:50 p.m. firefighters responded to a home at 11th Avenue and Olive Street where smoke was reportedly coming from a second floor rear porch.
Officials said the fire caused external damage to the house and was contained to the porch area.
The family was not displaced.
Minutes later, firefighters received a call for a trash fire in the area of Charles and Hope streets.
When fire trucks arrived the fire was already out, so crews were recalled.
Both incidents are under investigation.
Investigating agencies include city detectives, state police fire marshals, county fire marshals, area fire departments and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
In 2008, the city and surrounding area experienced roughly 20 intentionally set fires, including one on Strode Avenue that took the life of a Nazi work camp survivor.
While authorities made an arrest in that particular case, the arsons continued into the new year.
No arrests have been made for the 2009 fires.
Investigators say the arsonist usually uses trash or debris to spark a blaze, so all residents are being urged to keep trash indoors.
So far this year, twelve fires have been intentionally set in the city. One occurred in Valley.
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