Authorities probe rash of suspicious fires

Local authorities are investigating a rash of suspicious fires being set in vacant properties in the Branch Street area.

The most recent fires happened early Monday morning – one in the 1300 block and one in the 1400 block of Branch Street, according to police reports available at presstime. The Rocky Mount Fire Department and Rocky Mount Police Department are investigating the fires, which they’ve deemed suspicious because of how they’ve been started.

“We’ve gone back and done some mapping of it, and it looks like since May 18 there’s actually been what we believe are 16 suspicious fires in that area in about a month’s time,” Fire Chief Keith Harris said. “All of (the fires) have been in places like storage sheds or vacant houses, not any occupied dwellings.”

Harris said damage to the properties from the fires has ranged from minor to severe, but no one has been injured in any of the blazes. The fires have been set by using debris, clothing items and, in at least one case, a mattress, that likely already were at the sites. The fires have been in an area that includes Hargrove, Cypress, Mitchell, Midway and Lancaster streets.

“It’s good in one sense that these aren’t occupied structures, however, it’s a dangerous situation because any time there’s a fire like this, it could spread to an adjoining structure,” Harris said.

Police have talked to neighborhood residents as part of the investigation, Harris said. He said the area is mostly residential and is one of the older neighborhoods in Edgecombe County.

Harris said the city has been working on boarding up, locking and securing unoccupied structures across the city and is focusing energy in the Branch Street area.

Police Capt. Laura Fahnestock said that police are working with the fire department to investigate each incident but would not release further information because of the ongoing investigation. She said if anyone sees anything suspicious, they should notify police immediately by calling the police station at 972-1411 or Twin County Crime Stoppers at 977-1111.