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Putnam County Fla--Arson Fires On Rise
Damage from fires set at $1.9 million
by Brad Buck
The Palatka Daily News
Fires have caused about $2 million in damage in Putnam County so far this year, the state fire marshal said.
Fire Marshal Joe Guidry said he has investigated 50 fires in the county through Friday, with dollar losses estimated at $1,947,450, he said.
"That's a lot of dollar loss for this size county," Guidry said. "The dollar loss is what's really troubling," he said. "That's a lot of money lost in the county."
Of the 50 blazes this year, 18 were home fires with losses estimated at $1,452,200, 25 were mobile home fires with losses of $371,050 and eight vehicle fires have caused $123,200, county records show.
Ten home fires and six car fires are suspected to be the work of arsonists, Guidry said.
Anyone with information that leads to an arrest of an arsonist is eligible for a $2,500 reward. Call 329-0464. Callers can remain anonymous.
County Emergency Services Director Doug Stewart said Friday that he and Guidry are investigating the arson fires and have made three arrests - all from a car fire in Interlachen. Another arson arrest is pending in a truck fire, Guidry said.
The county is getting more firefighting equipment, Guidry said, which will help reduce the numbers. But response time often just isn't fast enough to lessen fire damages, and that's no one's fault considering most of the county is covered by volunteer firefighters, he said.
"Our response time still isn't what it should be," Guidry said. "These guys are working during the day. Limited manpower is killing us. The unfortunate thing is there's nobody at the fire stations. They have to go home, come back, get their equipment and get on the trucks and go."
Volunteers and paid firefighters get to the fires as quickly as they can, he said.
Average response time to fires in the county ranges from eight minutes to 25 minutes, Guidry said.
According to the state Fire Marshal's Office in Tallahassee, Putnam County recorded 261 fires, including 77 structure fires in 2001, the latest statistics available. Fires that year caused $839,000 in damage and killed one person, records show.
by Brad Buck
The Palatka Daily News
Fires have caused about $2 million in damage in Putnam County so far this year, the state fire marshal said.
Fire Marshal Joe Guidry said he has investigated 50 fires in the county through Friday, with dollar losses estimated at $1,947,450, he said.
"That's a lot of dollar loss for this size county," Guidry said. "The dollar loss is what's really troubling," he said. "That's a lot of money lost in the county."
Of the 50 blazes this year, 18 were home fires with losses estimated at $1,452,200, 25 were mobile home fires with losses of $371,050 and eight vehicle fires have caused $123,200, county records show.
Ten home fires and six car fires are suspected to be the work of arsonists, Guidry said.
Anyone with information that leads to an arrest of an arsonist is eligible for a $2,500 reward. Call 329-0464. Callers can remain anonymous.
County Emergency Services Director Doug Stewart said Friday that he and Guidry are investigating the arson fires and have made three arrests - all from a car fire in Interlachen. Another arson arrest is pending in a truck fire, Guidry said.
The county is getting more firefighting equipment, Guidry said, which will help reduce the numbers. But response time often just isn't fast enough to lessen fire damages, and that's no one's fault considering most of the county is covered by volunteer firefighters, he said.
"Our response time still isn't what it should be," Guidry said. "These guys are working during the day. Limited manpower is killing us. The unfortunate thing is there's nobody at the fire stations. They have to go home, come back, get their equipment and get on the trucks and go."
Volunteers and paid firefighters get to the fires as quickly as they can, he said.
Average response time to fires in the county ranges from eight minutes to 25 minutes, Guidry said.
According to the state Fire Marshal's Office in Tallahassee, Putnam County recorded 261 fires, including 77 structure fires in 2001, the latest statistics available. Fires that year caused $839,000 in damage and killed one person, records show.