Monday night fire-setting causes concern

EPHRATA — Arsonists set blazes in six locations throughout the city in the span of one hour late Monday night, with one fire threatening a nearly 100-year-old barn, authorities said.

The six suspicious fires occurred in Dumpsters, a recycling bin, a brush-filled field and near a large wooden barn on Pioneer Avenue S.E.

"Regardless of the reason the person or persons are lighting the fires, the crime they are committing is arson," said Ephrata Fire Department Battalion Chief Kyle Foreman. "We fully intend to assist Ephrata police in finding those responsible and charge them accordingly."

Authorities have not made an arrest following the arsons. No injuries were reported as a result of the fires.

Additionally, the Ephrata Police Department is actively investigating several malicious mischief incidents that occurred the evening of July Fourth and into the next day.

Vandals attacked numerous vehicles during the evening with black spray paint in the northeast and southeast areas of Ephrata, Police Chief Joe Varick said.

The exact number of vehicles struck by the vandals and cost estimates for the damage were not immediately available.

Police said the Monday Dumpster and recycling bin fires were at Lions Park, Ephrata High School, H Street S.E. and Alder Street N.W. Investigators determined perpetrators ignited the fires by tossing fireworks into the Dumpsters.

The Ephrata Fire Department, however, remains mostly concerned about the fire started in brush near the large old barn on Pioneer Avenue S.E., Foreman said. The arsonists set some brush and an old couch on fire that had been positioned next to the barn.

"Unfortunately, when people start lighting fires, if they're that way inclined, they tend to move on to bigger things," Foreman said. "Which would have serious consequences for home and business owners."

The structure, which is filled with theater seating, sustained minimal damage because the city's fire department is only a few blocks away and crews were able to quickly respond.

"Luckily we had an engine company in the area that arrived quickly and extinguished the fire," he said.

"If (the barn) caught on fire it would have been a huge fire and not only would have probably burned the barn to the ground, but would have likely damaged the homes around it," Foreman said.

"When someone lights a fire so close to an unstable turn-of-the-century structure that you know is going to go up like a matchstick, you know they just have a total disregard for the safety of others," he said.

The Ephrata Police Department is continuing to investigate who was responsible for the series of fires.

The fire department, Foreman said, encourages homeowners to call authorities if they witness suspicious vehicles or persons, especially after dark.

Witnesses seeking to provide anonymous information about the incidents may do so by calling the Ephrata Police Department at (509) 754-2491, Varick said.