Arsonist Sought After Series of Fires in Fla.

MANATEE, Fla. -- A series of house fires confined to a few blocks in a densely packed neighborhood has local authorities on high alert.

The fires, which have been termed suspicious, began with a fire in a shed at 1301 13th Ave. E. on March 15.

Two days later, a vacant and abandoned house at 1301 30th Ave. E. caught fire and sustained significant damage.

The next day, March 18, another abandoned and vacant house caught fire at 1004 30th Ave. E.

Finally, a vacant house at 1236 30th Ave. E. suffered extensive fire damage March 20.

The state fire marshal's

office is working the case along with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and Southern Manatee Fire District.

"Whoever is doing this is just targeting vacant homes within a confined area, but the fear is that you can't tell every house is vacant," Dave Bristow, a sheriff's office spokesman, said Friday.

In order to protect the neighborhood, firefighters with the Southern Manatee Fire District will be going door-to-door today asking residents if they have smoke detectors in their homes, Bristow said.

The department will install a smoke detector in any home in the threat area that needs one, Bristow added.

Meanwhile, the sheriff's office is working leads.

Bristow was not able to reveal much Friday but he did confirm the fires had some similarities.

"If someone is intentionally setting these fires, then we do have an arsonist out there," Bristow said.

The neighborhood, in the Southeast High School area, is older and well established with many families.

"The fire department and our deputies have talked to residents to get leads," Bristow said. "We can only hope they pan out in the near future."

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to the identification of the person or persons responsible for the fires.

Copyright 2012 - The Bradenton Herald, Fla.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service