West Virginia’s Martinsburg Reports Spike in Arson

A Martinsburg, West Virginia official says arson is on the rise in the Eastern Panhandle city.

Lt. Greg Hoover said the Martinsburg Fire Department investigated 10 arsons in the first three months of 2010. That’s more than all of 2009, when three arsons were reported.

Hoover said at least some of the fires appear related and six were set in a small area of Martinsburg.

The department is asking people to keep combustible items cleaned up and to secure mail slots at night, among other things.