Police Say Arson To Blame For Southern Mass. Fires

PLYMPTON (CBS) - Investigators say arson is to blame for two fires that broke out less than three miles apart early Monday.

"If it is arson, we don't want it to escalate. Yeah, it bothers me greatly," said Halifax Fire Chief Bill Carruco.

Investigators do not know whether there is any connection between the two fires but say both were intentionally set.

The State Fire Marshal's office said the latest fires are part of an investigation into "several intentionally-set fires in southern Massachusetts in the past month."

"There is evidence to connect some of these fires and others are being investigated to determine whether or not there is any connection," The State Fire Marshal said in a statement Monday. "This morning we released information about two fires, one in Halifax and one in Plympton, asking for the public's help. Information about the other incidents is still under investigation."

The latest fires were set early Monday morning. The first fire started at 3 a.m. at an empty residential building on Monponsett Street in Halifax. The second fire broke out 2.5 miles away at 5:30 a.m. on Main Street in Plympton in a garage used for storage.

But it's the fact that an arsonist is at work, that has people concerned, especially firefighters.

"During the course of any fire, big or small, firefighters are at risk," said Plympton Fire Chief Warren Borsari.

In fact, two Halifax firefighters were slightly injured, trying to put out the fire at an abandoned house on Route 58, Borsari said.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the fires to call the Plympton Police Department at (781) 585-3339 or the statewide Arson Hotline at 1-800-682-9229.