September 24, 1997

Arsonist sought in rash of fires

       Greenwood police are searching for suspects believed to be responsible for setting seven fires since Thursday.  “There’s somebody running around here doing this, and we want to find them,” said Eric Brown, fire marshal for the White River Township Fire Department.  Two businesses and a home were damaged in fires reported Thursday, and two more cases of arson were discovered at a grocery store and a barn Monday. A reward is now being offered for information resulting in the arrest and conviction of the people responsible. The reward is for up to $1,000.  At 5:40 p.m. Monday, firefighters were called t Kroger at 3100 Meridian Park Drive for a fire set on a transformer behind the grocery.  “It was set with what looked to be a candle and a wooden base with some newspapers placed around it,” Brown said.  Firefighters safely extinguished that fire. There was no damage to the structure, and no were injuries reported. Firefighters were then called to a fire inside a barn at 6:37 p.m.  A fire had been set using some carpet, a television and a television stand inside the barn at 120 N. Morgantown Road, just south of the Center Grove Lassie League softball complex. That fire was also extinguished before causing structural damage.  Business owners were not so lucky Thursday when arson destroyed one business and all the merchandise of another.  “They’ve got to catch this arsonist,” said Tina Fearin, who lost $40,000 in merchandise when her gift shop was smoke-damaged in the blaze that destroyed an adjacent Papa John’s at 259 S. State Road 135. Her shop, Gifts Unlimited, is next door.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

(Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo)
 
 

---