September 26, 1997

Five fires set Thursday brings total to 12

       The fires keep burning, and authorities are desperate to put a stop to them.  Twelve fires have been set in Greenwood in a week, and police are scared someone is going to get hurt.  On Thursday, firefighters and police were running between five fires set between 2 and 4 am. in White River township.  Almost $95,000 damage has been done, the majority of which occurred when a Papa John’s pizza shop was gutted by fire. Police are asking for the community’s help.  “This is getting dangerous,” said Greenwood Police Chief Robert Dine. “Property can be replaced, but someone is going to get hurt — either a fireman at the scene or an individual trapped in a building.”  Dine had thought the fires that started Sept. 18 were the work of juveniles, but that theory was dismissed after a fire was set Thursday in the men’s restroom of John Wayne’s Pub at 299 State Road 135. No one younger than 21 is allowed in the pub.  “It appears (the arsonist) isn’t trying to hurt anyone and likes to see the fire and fire trucks,” Dine said. “We need information from people. Right now this is a loss of property, but there’s the potential for the loss of life. The person doing this has a problem.”  Dine is urging citizens to call 911 if they see any suspicious activity.  Police believe the fires are related because they all happened within the same timeframe and proximity. Some of the arsons involved accelerants, and several have been sparked by burning debris.  In addition to the 12 arsons reported in the past eight days, firefighters are also considering a link to a rash of arsons discovered in Greenwood city parks Aug. 21.  Park and fire officials found several small fires set at Craig and Westwood parks. Debris was used to start the fires, which were discovered between 12:30 and 5:30 am.  “There’s a good possibility these could be connected” to the more recent arsons, said Greenwood Fire Marshal Rodney Johnson. Firefighters began battling Thursday’s blazes at 1:48 a.m. when they found a fire in a trash bin behind John Wayne’s Pub. Almost simultaneously a fire was discovered on an electric meter at Comtech, a mobile phone business at 255 5. State Road 135. That blaze wiped out electrical power in the adjoining strip mall for hours, and a resulting electric surge also sparked a residential attic fire nearby. The fire was safely extinguished, resulting in little damage and no injuries.  As firefighters were battling the blaze at Comtech, two more fires were discovered at the nearby John Wayne’s.  A box was set ablaze behind the bar, and a cloth towel dispenser was set on fire in a men’s restroom. About 20 patrons were in the pub at the time.  White River Township Fire Marshal Eric Brown said authorities would like to question a patron who put out the box fire with a fire extinguisher from his car.  “He was a white male, 5 foot 2, who had sandy blond hair and was balding with glasses. We’d like to question ‘him to see what he knows,” said Brown, who urges the man to contact authorities.  As firefighters answered the first arson calls Thursday, more than 10 off-duty firefighters were summoned as the calls kept coming in.  The two largest fires early Thursday destroyed a church bus and torched a trash bin full of old tires.  The bus was burned at Community Church of Greenwood, 1477 W. Math St. Pastor Jim Dodson said the 1980 bus was for sale for $1,500, which would have gone into the church’s maintenance budget. A second bus in the parking lot, which was already sold, was not touched by the arsonist.  Pastor Randy Rainwater, who ministers to high school and college students at the church, said the arsonist is endangering lives as well as dreams. “Several small churches were looking (to buy) this bus for children’s programs,” Rainwater said. “It’s a sad thing. This isn’t just burning a vehicle, but burning opportunities to minister to kids. This is more than a vehicle. This is a tool.”  Rainwater said the potential for danger is high, which scares him since there are always activities going on at the church.  “We have lock-ins and a custodial staff (that works nights). I’m afraid our custodial staff could run into the people doing this.”  Police and firefighters urge anyone with information on the rash of arsons to call 888-8337 or 865-0300.  A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information resulting in the arrest and conviction of the people responsible.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

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