IFD battles 5 suspicious fires on east side

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Indianapolis firefighters were kept busy battling five suspicious fires on the city's east side overnight.

The first fire broke out shortly after 11:30 Sunday night at a vacant double residence at 330 N. Rural St. Firefighters say it was a very small fire that was extinguished within 15 minutes.

Less than 3 hours later firefighters would battle four more fires that occurred within 40 minutes and 4 blocks of each other.

At 2:15 Monday morning, firefighters were sent to 815 North Rural Street on another vacant residence on fire.

The fire was made increasingly dangerous by several holes in the floor.

The blaze was brought under control within 45 minutes. Damage was estimated at $75,000.

While battling that fire, IFD was dispatched to another fire in a home occupied by a family of 5, just one block away on Eastern Avenue.

When firefighters arrived at 948 Eastern Avenue, they found heavy fire at the front of the residence.

James Jenkins told investigators his family was all asleep when he heard a loud noise. When he went to investigate he found fire and smoke at the front of his house.

The family evacuated the house quickly and called 911. No one was injured.

The fire was brought under control within 45 minutes. Damage is estimated at $50,000.

Firefighters would later be called to two trash fires in the area; one in the 700 block of North Oxford Street and another in the 600 block of North Rural St.

While investigators have not linked all the fires as yet, they do say they are suspicious.

Those who live around Rural and East Washington Street believe the fires are more than suspicious. In fact, some residents are calling it arson.

“Somebody was doing that,” said East side resident Timothy Jackson. “Coincidence just don’t happen like that, not in a four block radius. ”

IFD has yet to rule if arson is a factor. We did receive some numbers from the fire department. According to IFD arrested 33 people for arson this year.

That’s more than double from last year this time when there were

16 people arrested.

“ We have whole generations of people that have nothing better to do with their time than to destroy property,” said Linda Proffitt East resident.

It could take weeks before IFD rules on cause of the fires.