UPDATE 2/6/12 @ 6:20 p.m.
LOGAN, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A string of arsons in Logan County has investigators working around the clock, not to mention keeping neighbors there on high alert.
“People are getting very fearful here,” Joe Spradling, who works in downtown Logan, said.
Many are afraid their homes or businesses could be the next to burn.
“Make sure your doors and windows are locked. Make sure your property is secured,” Logan Fire Chief Scott Beckett said.
Beckett prefers preventing fires. However, lately he's been fighting the flames, and trying to track down an arsonist.
“We've gotta get them off the streets,” Beckett said. “You can only press your luck so much before they set something on fire where they either harm themselves or a citizen, or one of our own men get hurt.”
One home and three commercial properties have caught fire in the past 30 days. That includes Knowles Animal Hospital. All animals were rescued, but whoever started the fire got away.
Now fire officials and police are working side by side, trying to put the pieces together.
“We're running down leads and talking to a couple of suspects,” Logan Police Chief E.K. Harper said.
“They're all out here with boots on the ground making sure this gets taken care of,” Beckett said.
So far, they've connected the two downtown fires that happened on the same street just days apart.
Investigators believe the other two were set by different people, potentially making a total of at least three arsonists on the run.
“People are getting very concerned, because this type of arson, you just don't know where it might strike next,” Spradling said. “All we can do at this point is just watch out and just be extra vigilant.”
If you have any information about the arsons, you're asked to call the state arson hotline. The number is 1-800-233-FIRE.
Investigators say it's the latest case of arson in Logan County.
“We were of course in bed asleep and they just kind of jumped up on alert status and started barking,” Eric O’Briant, a neighbor, said.
O’Briant’s dogs knew something wasn't right in their neighborhood. Minutes later, he saw the smoke.
“This hospital serves a lot of people, so there's gonna be a void there,” O’Briant said.
Knowles Animal Hospital caught fire about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
“We heard that the fire was coming out of the windows on both floors,” Dr. Charles Knowles, the owner said.
Knowles was out of state when he got the call that his business was on fire. He later learned it was mainly the upstairs that was damaged. Fortunately, the animals were downstairs.
“I'm grateful the animals are fine, and I’ll be grateful when they find whatever happened,” Knowles said.
State fire officials say it's the latest in a string of arsons in Logan County that firefighters have been dealing with for several months.
“Their training really paid off,” O’Briant said. “They saved the house next door and got all the animals out safely.”
However, that doesn't change the fact that whoever is responsible hasn't been caught.
“Even an arsonist; you wouldn't think they'd set fire to something that had people or animals in it,” Knowles said.
“If there's any information we need to know it. We can't solve these fires without the public helping,” West Virginia Fire Marshal Jason Baltic said.
Anyone with information about this fire or any other arson is asked to call the state arson hot-line at 1-800-233-FIRE (3473).
Five of the animals rescued are now homeless, and are temporarily staying with employees of the animal hospital.
If you’re interested in adopting one of the 3 cats or 2 dogs, you can contact Dr. Knowles at (304) 235-3500.
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Investigating Arson Cases
