Aug. 27--PRATTVILLE -- The Autauga County Sheriff's Office is investigating five fires that have occurred during a span of six weeks in the Marbury area.
There have been fires at a house, a mobile home and a barn in an area along Alabama 143. There was a fire at a home on Marbury Heights Road, and a vacant home on Bridgewater Court burned Monday night, sheriff's reports show.
The fires all have occurred at night. One woman suffered from smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported.
The state fire marshal's office is assisting in the investigation, Chief Deputy Joe Sedinger said.
"The Bridgewater Court fire is very close to the Highway 143 fires," Sedinger said. "The Marbury Heights fire is farther away, but since they all occurred within the past month to month and a half we are looking at all of them."
As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire marshal's office had not determined that any of the fires were the result of arson, he said.
"Still, we are investigating," he said. "We are asking the public to help us. If they have seen any suspicious vehicles or suspicious activity in the area, we ask them to call us. People know what's going on in their neighborhood. They know what vehicles belong there, and who may be out of town visiting relatives for a few days.
"If anyone has seen anything out of place, they need to call us."
Resident Al Cooper said the fires have the community spooked.
"Everybody is on edge about this," he said. "You go to work and wonder if you'll have a house to come home to. Your neighbor may be cooking out, and you see the smoke coming from his backyard and it stops you in your tracks."
Anyone with information about the fires in the Marbury area is urged to call the Autauga County Sheriff's Office at 361-2500 or the Secret Witness line at 361-2599.
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