‘Our sense of security is gone’
Garbage fires set in downtown Orlando neighborhoods reach at least 11
The towering flames had already begun burning his new pickup truck and fence when Christopher Ross rushed outside Thursday morning after hearing the crackling.
He was able to douse the flames with a hose, saving his Colonialtown home from damage — though he hasn’t slept since.
“It was scary,” Ross said Friday. “I thought it was going to come to the house. I thought the truck was going to be set ablaze worse.”
It’s at least the 11th fire in the past week in downtown Orlando neighborhoods. Fire officials said each blaze has started in a garbage can, a recycle bin or a dumpster and appear to be connected.
Thus far the department hasn’t publicly identified a suspect but hopes neighbors with surveillance cameras may have captured revealing footage.
Nessie, the arson team’s canine, investigated the fire at Ross’ home, Orlando Fire Department spokeswoman Ashley Papagni said.
Some fires have been deemed mischief, while others have been classified as arson.
On Thursday night, a fire on Lucerne Terrace off Kaley Street sparked up and appeared to be related. Friday morning, investigators were called about 6 a.m. to one on Annie Street near Orange Avenue.
Ross said he hopes the perpetrator or perpetrators are caught soon before more damage is inflicted.
“Our sense of security is gone,” said Ross, a father of three. “My truck is devastated. Christmas is going to be a rough one.”
The first four blazes occurred between the night of Nov. 29 and the morning of Nov. 30 in Lake Eola Heights garbage receptacles.
The next day, two more fires were investigated in the Colonialtown neighborhood just to the east.
Fire victims and neighbors were worried that the fires — which had caused minor damage