PALM BAY, Fla. — A new day brings new concerns for homeowners in Palm Bay worried about a serial arsonist.
On Monday, four brush fires were sparked in the southeast part of the city within one hour. Now, the State Fire Marshal believes the same arsonist has set as many as 50 fires since November of 2009.
Many worried Palm Bay residents are concerned their homes could be next.
Investigators believe the suspected arsonist chooses to start the fires in thick brush along roadsides, where few people are around to see what he or she is doing.
The State Fire Marshal's Office says Monday alone, between noon and 3:00pm, four different fires were set in an area just west of Interstate 95.
Of course, it is the same area where dozens of homes burned almost two years ago following another rash of arson fires.
This time around, fire investigators think the same person is responsible for igniting more than 50 brush fires in Palm Bay since November.
Leads are being called into the police department, but at this point they still do not have a suspect.
"The same has been going on for quite sometime now. The edge of road on a desolate street with one or two houses maybe," said Mike Couture, Fire Marshal.
This is strikingly similar to the situation in 2008 when right around lunchtime, almost every day fires would pop up all over the city. On a particularly windy day in May that year, dozens of homes were caught in the middle of one fire that ran for miles through Palm Bay.
Fire investigators are desperate to avoid a repeat of that day.
Previous Stories: February 15, 2010: Arsonist In Palm Bay Strikes Again February 12, 2010: Suspected Arsonist Keeps Palm Bay On Edge
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