Local

New task force formed to battle string of arson fires

ORLANDO, Fla. — More than two dozen suspicious fires remain unsolved across central Florida and local authorities are taking new steps to stop anything else from burning.

Orlando firefighters have teamed up with officials from two other counties to get a better handle on the issue.

Since April, there have been 16 suspicious fires in downtown Orlando, three in Daytona and 10 in Sanford.

All were in the middle of the night and mostly on the weekends; now they're being investigated together.

A new arson task force was formed to share information between federal, state and local agencies.

“There are multiple agencies with different tips, different leads and if they can all put it on the table. You never know what one little piece of information might lead to the breakthrough to get out suspect,” said Matthew Negedly, with the Orlando Fire Department.

The task force was formed the day after Curtis Smith was arrested in connection with a mobile home fire.

Investigators are still looking for Smith’s half-brother, Steven Angle.

The state fire marshal said Smith is not a suspect in other arsons in the Sanford area, but they have some questions for Angle.

The investigators would not say if the Sanford and Seminole County area fires are linked to the ones near downtown Orlando and they also would not say who might be fully responsible.

They are offering a reward for information leading to an arr