Chief: No Pattern to String of Rental Home Fires in Southern Illinois

A southern Illinois fire chief says a string of fires at rental properties do not appear to be connected.

The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan reports there have been 12 fires at rental homes since May 2014. Seven of them happened in January.

Investigators have determined that one was arson and issued a warrant for the arrest of one suspect. Another fire was found to be intentionally set but no other information was provided. The rest were determined to be accidents.

Fire Chief John Michalesko says there “does not appear to be any obvious pattern linking” the fires over the past year.

Information provide by Carbondale City Manager Kevin Baity to the The Southern Illinoisan indicates the common factor is that the homes were all rented to young students.