Police Investigating Rash Of Suspicious Fires In Bloomington
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (WCCO) -- A rash of suspicious fires in a Bloomington neighborhood has left police puzzled and neighbors worried.
Since Memorial Day weekend, police say there have been seven suspicious fires within a block of each other, between 93rd and 94th Streets and Oakland and Portland Avenues.
The situation is escalating, the fires have damaged a shed, 4 cars, a garage, and the most serious -- a home.
Police believe the cases could be arson. Neighbors are sure of it.
"It's unbelievable," said Angie Singer, a victim of one of the fires.
Singer can't understand why someone would do such a thing.
"It's a sick mind or minds that someone could do something like this. I don't think anybody in their right mind would set a fire to a house," said Singer.
After getting a call from a neighbor, she came home from her family camping trip Sunday to find her home of 52 years unlivable.
She believes someone threw something flammable through her back windows, setting her kitchen on fire.
"What really upset me, if I had been in there, I could have been hurt," said Singer.
Singer is now one of seven neighbors to deal with a crime like this.
Her next door neighbor told us someone started his shed on fire a couple weeks ago and the neighbor who lives two houses down was also hit.
Matt Schurman showed us a photo of his car, left charred and totaled.
"Someone is either vengeful or really likes fires," said Schurman. "Why this block, what's so special? That's what worries me."
Officers have increased their patrols and are telling neighbors to keep their eyes peeled, especially in the early morning when the fires seem to be happening.
"I hope it goes in the right direction before someone gets hurt, or worse," said Schurman.
The neighbors are thankful Singer wasn't hurt.
While this scared her and it will be several months before her home will be fixed, she won't let this drive her out of her neighborhood.
"Nobody's going to chase me out of here," said Singer.
The suspicious fires have caused thousands of dollars in property damage.
Police are asking for help to try and solve these cases. If you have any information, police would like you to give them a call at 952-563-8856.
