Fires puzzle, scare N. Philly neighbors

Residents of a North Philadelphia neighborhood were on edge yesterday after the latest in a series of fires on their block of N. College Avenue since June 24.

On that date, a fire broke out at a property on N. College Avenue near 23rd at 12:30 a.m.

Executive Chief Daniel Williams said that the fire marshal ruled that yesterday's first fire was intentionally set. He declined to comment on the causes of the other fires, citing an ongoing investigation.

The other fires were set on July 28 at 3 p.m. at 2339 N. College; on July 30 at 2:31 p.m. at 2301 N. College; last Wednesday at 1:36 p.m. at 2325 N. College; and yesterday at 12:19 a.m. and 7:59 a.m. at 2339 N. College, fire officials said.

"When the first fire started, we just wrote it off," said Darren Grant, a resident of the block. "No one thought anything of it."

"But now, it's gotten out of hand," Grant said. "It's nerve-racking because you can't sleep at night."

Residents wonder about developers possibly eyeing their block.

"I've gotten letters from as far as California from people asking me if I would consider selling my house," said a woman named Yvonne, who asked that her last name not be used.

Also, residents became suspicious in May when strangers came into the neighborhood, asking residents about who owned certain houses and if they would consider selling them.

"We're not sure, it's just a theory," Yvonne said. "It's just mysterious."

After yesterday's fire, the fire department called the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections to secure any properties on the block that were open to trespassing, according to Williams.

"From time to time we get these types of scenarios where you may have a certain amount of fires on a certain stretch of a block or in a specific geographical area," Williams said.

"The fire marshal keeps an eye on it and when it gets to a point where it needs to be looked at, the arson task force will investigate," Williams said.

"It's very scary because you don't know where it's going to happen next," said Doreen Greenidge, who lives on the block.

"Usually I can just go to bed, but now I have to have one ear up and one ear down," Greenidge said.

Leon McDowell agreed. "Someone's starting these fires," said McDowell, who lives with four young sons next door to one of the affected properties.

"The neighbors are fed up," McDowell said. "We want some answers."

Jerome Murray, College Avenue's block captain, hopes that the case is solved soon and that the fires stop before the neighbors' worst fears come true.

"The ultimate fear is that the whole block will go up," Murray said.

"People's lives are at stake."