Arson tally at 10 after 3 new fires

by | Nov 9, 2009

Update 8:15 a.m.: A third fire was discovered this morning at the Greenwood Quickstop at Greenwood and 81st, across from the Greenwood Library.

We spoke with Bill Meserole who was waiting for the market to open just before 8 a.m. When the owner unlocked the front door, he saw smoke but no fire.

Meserole ran to the back of the building and found a wire air vent with a cardboard box on fire inside.
Earlier this morning, firefighters responded to a wall fire at the Olive You restaurant at 8516 Greenwood Ave. N. — their second of the night in Greenwood. The call came in at 4 a.m., and fire crews extinguished the blaze minutes later, before it could extend to nearby businesses.

A fire spokeswoman says an arson patrol discovered the fire — once again deliberately set in the back of the business. Damage is set at $20,000, and firefighters say it could have been much worse if the patrol didn’t discover the blaze. Yet again, the arsonist escaped detection.

At 11 p.m. last night, the fire department rushed to the scene of a small fire in the back of Moonphoto at 77th and Greenwood, next to Wish boutique. A fire spokeswoman says the arsonist lit two fires behind the business. Fire crews quickly extinguished it, limiting damage to $1,000. Back in August, an arsonist lit a fire outside a home nearly next door at 7708 Greenwood Ave. N.
That makes 9 unsolved arson cases in Greenwood (see updated map). Eight businesses have burned in three separate fires since October 23rd.

A neighbor tells us that he has seen police and fire arson patrols overnight and early this morning. “The cops are doing their job,” he said. “I can’t believe this guy’s getting away with it. They should have someone apprehended by now.” A woman walked by us crying. “This just makes me so sad,” she said. “It’s like it’s never going to end.”
If you’ve seen anything suspicious, call 1-800-55-ARSON.

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