LaFayette police investigating possible arsonist activity

LaFAYETTE —LaFayette police say an arsonist may be active in the area after two suspicious fires in May at abandoned residences, Capt. Stacey Meeks said.

According to police reports, on May 26, around 1:30 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to 211 Villanow St. at Shaw Street.

This is an abandoned residence beside the LaFayette Cemetery entrance.

When firefighters arrived, the house was already covered in flames.

Footprints were discovered behind the residence, one officer reported. They were visible in the wet grass due to recent rains.

Blue flames and the smell of gasoline were prevalent behind the residence, another officer reported. Blue flames indicate an accelerant was used, Meeks said.

Arson had already been determined to be the cause of a fire on May 3, around 1 a.m., at an abandoned residence at 304 Simmons St.

The state fire marshal investigated the fire and deemed it arson based on accelerants being used in the fire.

Meeks said firefighters discovered two points of origin in the two-story structure, one on the bottom level and another on the second level.

Meeks said the residence has been vacant for quite some time, with the owner living out of state and no electricity running in the home. Both residences were total losses. It has been a few years since LaFayette police have investigated a serial arsonist in the area, Meeks said.

LaFayette police investigated a string of residential arson fires a few years ago.

He said it is worrisome to see two arson fires so close together. Both fires occurred around 1 a.m.

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