Pocono News Section

Arson Investigation Underway in Williamsport

Arson Investigation Underway in Williamsport - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 5:46PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Wednesday, Oct 21, 2009 @ 05:46pm EDT
Williamsport, Lycoming County- A rash of dumpster fires in Williamsport has escalated. Now a garage has been torched. And city police fear they may have a firebug on their hands.

The garage fire on Andrews Court has been ruled arson by city fire investigators. It happened Tuesday morning.

Neighbor Myron Revak said, "It's a little scary, up to a point. It's not too frequent, but it happens. It makes you think."

Authorities say this is just the latest incident. A dumpster around the corner on Lloyd Street has been set ablaze several times over the past couple months.

Police believe it may all be the work of one person.

Joseph Decosy, of Williamsport, said, "I think it's something scary for the city. Someone should lock that person up, put them in jail, messing around like that."

Investigators fear the alleged arsonist could move on to bigger targets.

Ken Yagel, who lives on Lloyd Street, noted, "This is a very vulnerable neighborhood, a lot of old houses up here. It wouldn't take much to set them off, wouldn't take much for them to go all the way up."

Residents here say they'll do what they can to protect their neighborhood.

Revak said, "We'll just keep crossing our fingers and hope that safety prevails and nothing more radical happens."

Yagel explained, "Firebugs are hard to stop, unless you catch them in the act. About all you can do is keep looking, keep your lights on. Hopefully somebody sees something."

“We have good cops, we have a good fire department in this town and I know they're on the ball. And I hope they catch who ever's doing it," he added.

Anyone with information on these fires is asked to call the Williamsport Arson Hot Line at 570-327-7575. All call will remain confidential.