People living along Porter's Main Road, St James, are living in fear of a suspected arsonist.

There have been seven fires there within the last two weeks. The latest incident involves the destruction of around $3 000 in household appliances after a fire was started in a container yesterday.

It was the second time that there has been a fire in the container, the first on Thursday.

Resident Quimby Rhina told the DAILY NATION someone was spotted running away from the scene of the last fire.

"These fires can't be coincidence; it has to be an arsonist," she said.

She added that residents did not think anything was wrong at first but they were afraid now, as the fires were coming closer to their homes.

"We real frightened and disturbed because we have to leave home to go to work and we are not feeling comfortable [leaving]," she said.

Backyard on fire

Early Saturday morning, Sophia Worrell was greeted by a sight no homeowner wants – her backyard was on fire.

"At around 12:30 a.m., I got up to go to the bathroom and I saw the glare and smoke. We [her neighbours] had to use a hose to put it out and later I got up and finished burning the grass so no one could come back and try to finish burning it," she said.

Upset neighbours also complained they called police on Saturday and yesterday but no one came. However, police officers arrived as THE NATION team was leaving the scene.

Verity J. Beckles, who lives in Warrens, St Michael, owns the land where some of the fires occurred. The appliances destroyed in the container fire belonged to his sister, who lives in England.

"I will have my land properly fenced but as I am visually impaired and physically challenged, I will have to find someone to do it.

"I may also put out a reward to the person responsible for the arrest and conviction of the [possible] arsonist because if one house goes up in smoke, they all will," he said. (CA)

Source: The Nation Newspaper - March 25, 2008