PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria officials are expressing at least some concern about what may seem to be a growing number of a specific type of fires in the city.
In the last month, at least six fires in different parts of Peoria have been reported as arsons.
“Comparative data is being compiled right now. Just by pure gut instinct, this feels a little outside of the norm,” said Shawn Sollberger, Fire Chief, to 25 News. “We deal with arson fires on a regular basis, intentionally-set fires on a regular basis, but this feels higher than normal.”
Community Development Director Joe Dulin is responsible for getting homes torn down if an emergency demolition is needed, which taxpayers fund.
“At the end of the day when an arson does occur, if it’s a dangerous structure, the city council believes in keeping our neighborhoods safe,” said Dulin, to 25 News. “This is a big safety priority for them. Even if we had to go back to the council to find additional funds to take these down, we would.”
Dulin tells 25 News he believes many of the arsons in a year happen during the winter months, when homeless try to find someplace warm as shelter.
Sollberger says no matter how many there are, every arson fire ends up being a burden for part of his staff.
“Anytime you’re dealing with an arson case, or really just any fire investigation in itself but then you add that crime element to it, it pulls our arson investigators who have other duties and responsibilities within the Fire Protection Bureau,” said Sollberger, to 25 News. “They’re unable to do those things, so it’s hard. Inspections don’t get performed and investigations don’t get performed because they have to spend so much time and attention in these areas.”
City officials encourage you, if you know of an abandoned or vacant home, to call 494-CARE.
They say it could lower the amount of arsons in the city.
