LAWRENCE CO., Ill. - Traditionally, it seems that January is the time of year when arsons (also known as "mysterious fires") seem to pop up all over Lawrence County...and this year is no exception.
Thus far this month, there have been three reported in about a week's time, and people in Lawrence are reporting directly to us that they're on edge over it, as in years past.
A little over a week ago (Friday, Jan. 18) at 2:50 a.m., multiple fire departments were called out to a fire at a vacant house located at 308 Lexington Avenue in Lawrenceville. That fire did an estimated $5,000 worth of damage to the house, owned by Marcella Barris of Bridgeport; but the house adjacent to it at 306 Lexington was also damaged by the flames from the Barris house, to the tune of twice that: an estimated $10,000 in damage.
Literally minutes after fire departments were called to the Lexington fire, they were toned out to the 1400 block of Fifth Street, where a garage was ablaze. Damage to that structure, owned by Stephen Castleman of Belleville, was estimated to be about $3,000.
Naturally, when the fire marshal's office became involved, all the fires were listed as "possible arson," and of course, the locals, being lead around by the nose by the already-proven-incompetent Mike "Misfit" Mefford (Lawrenceville's "fire chief" after several years as a failed police chief), deferred all matters to the state fire marshal. The outcome of any investigation is unknown at this time.
But then around 3:30 on the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 24, all the fire districts were toned out for a fire at Growing Green Lawn Care at 14204 Allison Prairie Road, where a fire really did a lot of damage: An estimated $300,000 if the numbers we're seeing are right. And of course, "the cause of the fire has not been determined."
What's sad is that those in touch with Disclosure advise that they know who is doing the fires...and a couple of names are repeat offenders who shouldn't even be out on the streets anyway. We're told these names have been forwarded to the authorities, but no arrests have been made. Whether they are forthcoming remains to be seen. At least there's been no loss of life - yet - but if authorities don't step it up in Lawrence, who knows what might happen next.
We'd post one of those "if anyone has any information" blurbs, but there's no point. The names of the alleged offenders have been forwarded, so we'll just sit tight and see if anything is going to be done...or if this is going to be another set of circumstances where the fires in Lawrence remain "mysterious."