The seventh arson in the last month and a half in Akron's Ellet neighborhood has residents once again concerned for their safety.
The blaze Wednesday night in the 2600 block of Priscilla Avenue started about 10:30 p.m. -- within hours of a community meeting on the topic -- in a stack of three tires and some trash beside an attached garage.
Neighbors Dakoda Parsell and Kevin Folk, both 11, followed the smell of smoke to the site, then summoned Dakoda's mother, Kim Myers, to call 911.
Myers, who lives across the street, and her friend used a fire extinguisher and garden hose to put the fire out before firetrucks arrived.
''Then we took off running to see if we could see (who did it),'' Myers said. ''It had started only moments earlier. Whoever's doing this is close by.''
A neighborhood block watch meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday on the lawn of the Ellet Community Church of God, 2700 Priscilla Ave.
No one has been injured in any of the seven fires set since June 26, and though others have caused thousands of dollars in damage, this one only scarred the garage's exterior wall.
But some neighbors fear the next time may be worse.
Twice a fire has been set near Myers' Cora Avenue home; one in July started just four houses down. She hasn't slept well since, and her son has ditched his bedroom in the dark back of the house for the living room.
A public meeting to answer residents' concerns on July 26 drew more than 100 residents. Wednesday's saw about 45, said City Council member Terry Albanese, D-6.
''Everyone was at ease and thought it was over,'' Myers said. ''This is No. 7. This isn't going to stop. Whoever it is is getting brave.''
All seven fires -- including two on Stetler Avenue, two on Stevenson Avenue, one on Albrecht Avenue and one on Cora Avenue -- have been intentional and appear to be connected, said Akron fire investigator Lt. Dennis Nelson. Of those before Wednesday, one originated in a garage, three in trash on back porches and two in vacant properties, and all were set in the dark.
Tips come in every day, Nelson said. But for the culprit to be caught, people need to stay aware of strange noises, dogs barking or strangers in the neighborhood.
''Somebody's got to see something,'' Nelson said. ''A lot of people are just uneasy. Anything at all, we're asking people to call us.''
A $5,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest or indictment of the person or persons causing the fires. With tips or concerns, call the Akron Fire Department's tip line at 330-375-2214.
Distributed by the Associated Press
