Pennsylvania Police Appeal For Help in Arson Cases

PITTSBURGH --

Police Appeal For Help After String Of Arsons In Sheraden

Police are searching for a serial arsonist who's burned six homes in Pittsburgh's Sheraden neighborhood.

The latest fire happened late Sunday night in a garage at a home in the 3300 block of Eliska Street.

Authorities are investigating another arson in Pittsburgh's Sheraden neighborhood after a fire in a garage at a home on Eliska Street.

Investigators said the fire started in the garage and spread to part of the home.

"Look at my door. It's still open. Look at that This is absolutely crazy," said Todd Banks, who lives in the damaged home.

Banks came home from work around 8 a.m. on Monday to find his garage destroyed and home damaged, the victim of the fifth arson in Sheraden in the last two-and-a-half weeks.

"It started in the back of the garage. It looks like they set ordinary combustibles on fire back there," said Detective Mike Burns of the Pittsburgh police department.

"It looks nothing the same. My goodness," Banks told Channel 4 Action News' Ari Hait as he surveyed the damage.

Banks' 16-year-old daughter was the only one home when the fire began around 1 a.m. on Monday. A neighbor pounded on the door to wake her up.

"She called me and said the garage is on fire and it's coming over to the house. And she just made it out of here," Banks said.

Shortly after fire crews responded to the fire on Eliska Street, they learned of another fire, a few blocks away on Francisco Street.

This fire, which police said was also deliberately set, was contained in a garbage can. But investigators said if the can had been closer to the fence, a nearby house could have been destroyed.

"I have four kids so I am concerned. And I keep close watch on them. So, hopefully they'll figure out who's doing all this. It's a shame," said another arson victim, Sharon Dusch.

Police said they're still investigating the fires but they're still not sure who might be behind the arson and they're appealing to the community for help.

"That's what we're hoping, someone is going to come forward and give us some information, help us out. Right now we're running down a couple leads and still got some things we're looking at. But if anybody with information could please call us, that would be greatly appreciated," said Detective Mike Burns of the Pittsburgh police department.

A community meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Sheraden to give residents a chance to meet with public safety officials to try to develop a plan to deal with the arsons.

Neighbors are also hoping to meet with the mayor sometime this week to discuss the situation.

Previous Stories:

• June 16, 2009: 'Everything We Had Is Gone' - Sheraden Family Loses Home To Arson
• June 6, 2009: 2-Alarm Sheraden Fire Spreads

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