Jul 29, 2009 4:20 pm US/Pacific
More Cars Torched In San Francisco Arsons
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / BCN) ―
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A car is engulfed in flames on the 700 block of La Playa in San Francisco early Wednesday morning.
CBS
Two cars were lit on fire in San Francisco Wednesday morning, bringing the city's total number of suspected arson car fires to at least 10 in the past week, a fire lieutenant said.
Wednesday's first blaze was reported at 2 a.m. in front of Francisco Middle School in the city's North Beach neighborhood, San Francisco fire Lt. Mindy Talmadge said.
About an hour later, firefighters were called to another car fire, this time at Balboa and La Playa streets in the city's Outer Richmond neighborhood, Talmadge said.
In one of those cases, the fire spread to a third car parked nearby.
Talmadge said investigators have determined that the fires were intentionally set, but could not comment on what evidence led to that conclusion.
Eight other vehicle fires in the past week are also being investigated as arson, she said.
Two cars were lit on fire Thursday morning, she said. Two more cars burned Saturday, another one on Sunday, and three more Tuesday morning, Talmadge said.
The arsons have not been confined to one part of the city, though several have taken place in the Western Addition and the Richmond District. Others have occurred in the Financial District, the North Beach neighborhood and the Bayview District.
Police called for the public's help Wednesday in solving the arson spree. Anyone who either witnessed any of the arsons, or has information about them, is asked to contact the arson detail at (415) 920-2944 or the department's confidential tip line at (415) 575-4444.
Police Sgt. Wilfred Williams said an 11th vehicle was lit on fire Monday morning.
No arrests have been made in connection with the fires, Talmadge said. She declined to confirm reports that the car fires were started using newspapers.
Investigators have not made any links between the vehicle fires and a series of portable toilet arson fires in the city earlier this year and late last year.
Between November and February, firefighters extinguished 27 portable toilet fires, Talmadge said.
"If they do find a connection I'm sure they'll investigate that thoroughly," she said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
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