West Virginia Fire Marshal Wants Help Solving Suspicious Fires

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- The state fire marshal's office is asking for the public's help to solve eight suspicious fires that have destroyed abandoned or condemned structures in eastern Kanawha County since Sept. 1.

``The fire scenes themselves are undetermined in cause, but the circumstances are suspicious,'' said Kim O'Brien, secretary for the arson and explosives division of the state fire marshal's office.

Most of the structures in the Cabin Creek, East Bank and Dawes areas suffered significant damage and several were reduced to a concrete slab, O'Brien said.

The structures are owned by different entities and most weren't worth much, O'Brien said.

The last two fires occurred on Saturday within 15 minutes and one mile of each other when an old house and church went up in flames.

Investigators haven't been getting much help from residents, who fear becoming the next victim, O'Brien said.

``The leads are very minimal,'' O'Brien said. ``It's a very closed-mouth community. Somebody has to be seeing something and they're just not talking.''

Anyone with information can call the state's 24-hour arson hot line at (800) 233-FIRE. Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for up to a $2,500 reward.