News
State Fire Marshal Investigating 18 Arsons In Portsmouth
< < Back toThe Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal is offering a $5,000 reward for information about 18 arson fires that have occurred in Portsmouth since the beginning of the year.
According to Shane Cartmill, spokesman for the State Fire Marshal, six of the fires took place in the past week.
Along with the Portsmouth Fire Department, the fire marshal's office hung Blue Ribbon Arson Reward signs at each fire scene.
The reward is for information leading at the identification of anyone responsible for the fires.
Cartmill says investigators are treating each fire as a separate case, but there are similarities.
Nine of the fires occurred on 6th or 7th Streets and three fires took place on 16th and 17th Streets.
"These are senseless crimes that hurt our community and could hurt our citizens and firefighters," said Portsmouth Fire Chief Bill Raison.
Anyone with information is asked to call the State Fire Marshal's office at 1-800-589-2728, the Portsmouth Fire Department at 740-353-2660 and Portsmouth Police Department at 740-354-1600.
Here is a complete list of the addresses:
– January 1, 2012 1643 6th Street
– January 1, 2012 2133 7th Street
– January 16, 2012 2011 6th Street
– January 16, 2012 1914 7th Street
– January 18, 2012 1608 Waller Street
– January 19, 2012 1442 Coles Boulevard
– January 26, 2012 1613 7th Street
– February 3, 2012 612 Boundary Street
– February 18, 2012 1621 Robinson Avenue
– February 26, 2012 1620 6th Street
– February 26, 2012 1608 7th Street
– March 3, 2012 2120 9th Street
– March 25, 2012 1121 17th Street
– March 27, 2012 1633 7th Street
-March 27, 2012 1629 7th Street
– March 27, 2012 1120 16th Street
– March 28, 2012 1120 16th Street
– March 28, 2012 120 Glover Street