Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Police are searching for an alleged arsonist who they say is responsible for a series of car fires in the Wissinoming section of Philadelphia.
The fires happened Sunday around 4 a.m. near 5700 Cottage Street.
When police and firefighters arrived, they found four empty parked cars on fire. A short distance away, police say they found another empty car on fire on 1900 Cheltenham Avenue.
Fire crews were able to put out all five fires. No one was injured. However, police say the fires shattered glass windows at the nearby Cottage Garden Apartments.
Police say that arson was the cause of the fires. Investigators say the blazes were caused when a flammable liquid was applied to the vehicles and then exposed to an open flame. Police are currently trying to contact the owners of the vehicles.
"I just called 911 right away," said Kristy Shepherd of Wissinoming. "I didn't even think that anybody set it I just thought that maybe it caught fire or overheated or something."
"I really think it was just the work of some teenagers trying to mess around with fire," said Cassandra Velez of Northeast Philadelphia.
Investigators say the following cars were burned:
- 1995 Honda
- 1999 Toyota
- 2001 Dodge
- 1997 Ford
- 2003 Ford
No word yet on any suspects or motives.
