Nov. 12--A south Minneapolis neighborhood was hit with an unusual string of suspected arson fires Friday night, with 17 small blazes set across a 13-block area near West River Parkway.
At one point, 20 Minneapolis police squads were deployed in search of suspects in the Longfellow and Howe neighborhoods.
Police have yet to make any arrests, and no injuries were reported.
The rash of fires was set between 8:30 p.m. Friday and 12:30 a.m. Saturday in an area bordered by West River Parkway, Snelling Avenue South, 32nd Street East and 45th Street East.
The suspect or suspects set 10 fires on piles of leaves, three vehicle fires, two garage fires, one dumpster fire and one retaining wall fire.
Sgt. William Palmer said police have no estimate yet on the cost of the damage and he wasn't aware of arson in the neighborhood in recent months.
Officers from all five Minneapolis Police precincts -- up to 40 officers at one point -- and the Special Operations Division were deployed to the area in an intense search for the suspects, he said.
"That's very unusual," Palmer said. "A lot of resources were deployed."
Anyone with information is asked to call 612-673-2549.
KELLY SMITH
