The SLO Police Department is offering concerned citizens cold hard cash for their help in catching whomever is responsible for setting a series of small fires throughout the city.
Police announced earlier this month that a rash of small fires in multiple locations within the city this year were set intentionally, and officials are asking members of the public to come forward with any information they might have.
“These fires have occurred throughout the city near our creeks, railroad tracks, open spaces, residential areas, the downtown corridor, and even near our police and California Highway Patrol headquarters,” a press release from the department stated. “Both police and fire department personnel have continued to investigate the cause of these suspicious fires, collect evidence, and try to identify the person(s) responsible for starting them.”
According to the department, there have been 40 such fires this year. On more than one occasion, multiple fires were set in a single day.
“The nature and location of these fires have posed a significant threat to the public’s safety as well as potential damage to city and private property,” the statement read. “Fortunately the quick response from the city’s fire and police personnel has thwarted any extensive damage and injury to the public to this point in time.”
The fires worry local police and fire officials, and no arrests have been made. They are now asking for the public’s assistance to help them crack the case. Thanks to a donation from Crime Stoppers, the department is offering up to $1,000 in reward money for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person, or persons, who intentionally set the fires.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 549-7837 or the SLO Police Department at 781-7317.
This article appears in Dec 24-31, 2015.
