More than 50 suspected arsons in California town
Jan 10, 2012, 9:38 PM
NOVATO, Calif. (AP) – Authorities suspect more than 50 small arson fires have been set around the California city of Novato since the weekend.
Fire officials previously reported 26 blazes but said Tuesday that the number now stands at 56.
The blazes have mostly burned grass and brush ranging in size from a dinner plate to a quarter acre. They’ve damaged a commercial trash bin, a power pole and a fence in the city 20 miles north of San Francisco.
The fires have come as close as 10 feet to homes, but no one has been injured.
Novato Deputy Fire Chief Eric Nickel says the fires appear to be related. No suspects have been identified.
The first fires were reported Saturday. The largest was found Monday in Rush Creek Open Space Preserve.
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