Arsons have neighborhood worried

Since a rash of arson fires in West Central began less than a month ago, area residents have been streaming into the neighborhood’s C.O.P.S. shop asking for help.

“Residents are beside themselves wondering what to do,” said Maurece Vulcano, programs manager for Spokane Community Oriented Policing Services, also known as C.O.P.S. “(They are) sleeping with one eye open.”

C.O.P.S. is hosting a meeting tonight at the area’s community center, 1603 N. Belt. Spokane police, fire and code enforcement officials will speak to residents about what’s happening, prevention and how to help investigators. On Wednesday, police volunteers hand-delivered 500 fliers door-to-door about the gathering.

The residents’ concerns started after four fires were set within a quarter-mile radius in less than an hour in West Central on Aug. 29. Since then, there have been two more fires thought to have been arsons, which brings the total to 12 so far this year.

“We’ve interviewed a lot of people (about the fires), but no one has risen to the level of becoming a suspect,” Spokane Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said Thursday.

Spokane Fire Marshal Lisa Jones added: “It would be darn nice if we could get a lead. We’re desperate to find the source here.”

Schaeffer, who has been critical of the media’s coverage of the West Central incidents, said the number of blazes in that area this year compared to last year are nearly the same. However, it hasn’t been determined if there has been an increase in arsons.

“It may well be higher (this year), but we won’t really know until tomorrow,” Schaeffer said, adding an investigator was working Thursday night to put together a map that will show the when, where and why of fires for tonight’s meeting.

Meanwhile, West Central residents have been on alert.

Horace Wittmer, 71, lives on Nora Avenue across from the first house that was set on fire in late August. Since then, he and his neighbors take turns keeping a look out whenever they notice suspicious activity, he said.

“We come out on the porch and watch,” he said.

Bill Koshman has lived on Sharp Avenue in West Central since 1984. On Aug. 29, he was a victim of arson fire for the second time since he’s moved there.

The rear portion of the roof is covered where flames tore through the home and throughout the attic, destroying a laundry room and leaving holes where windows used to be. No one would have been able to escape through the back door, he said. About three years ago, the blaze was started on his porch near the front door.

“I don’t view these as arsons,” Koshman said. “I view them as attempted murder. I personally don’t think this (the arsons) is being given a high priority, and it won’t until someone is killed.”

As Koshman pointed out the damage and the pile of charred debris that remained, he said he has resolved that arson is part of living in West Central. But he doesn’t plan to move, and he didn’t have insurance to pay for damage to the home that is now barely livable.

The 53-year-old said that after the first fire he had heeded officials’ advice to remove burnable items from outside his home.

“I felt really safe when I thought the fires could only be started by combustibles,” he said. But now they just splash “accelerant” on your house and light it up.