Arsonist Sought In 8 Doylestown Fires

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - A Bucks County community is on edge after a string of arsons that have impacted homes and businesses.

The fires started on October 23 in Doylestown and there have been eight all together.

Several were set in one night, including a fast-moving fire that seriously damaged the rear of a home on Union Street.

An arson task force is investigating in conjunction with the district attorney's office. Police say this is probably the work of one suspect but, right now, they're not ruling anything out, reported Fox 29's Dave Schratwieser.

“Three of them were pretty dangerous, one being an occupied structure, during the evening, late in the evening when people were sleeping," says Chief James Donnelly of Doylestown Police.

The suspect has torched trash cans, fences and the side of a building. The fires have been set late at night or in the early morning hours.

"Looks like it's probably one person," believes Chief Donnelly. "The potential for it to get as someone seriously injured is something that we're really concerned about."

Investigators say whoever is responsible is not using an accelerant - just combustible materials that may be on the scene.

Extra police patrols have been added in the areas affected.

Anyone with information is asked to call Doylestown Police Department at 215-348-4201.