Six fires were set overnight in a busy area, and South Carolina police called them arson
Multiple fires on Monday night in a busy area of South Carolina has prompted arson investigations, according to the Forest Acres Police Department.
Police are investigating six fires that happened in the area near Old Mill Circle and Lakeview Circle, police said Tuesday in a news release. That’s near the intersection of Trenholm Road and Forest Drive, in a busy part of Columbia where many restaurants and retail businesses are located.
Between 9 and 11 p.m., emergency responders received multiple calls about residential trashcans on fire in the area, according to the release.
Additionally, bales of pine straw at Forest Lake Gardens were also set on fire, police said.
There were no injuries and no structures were damaged by the fires, according to the release.
Police called the fires “an isolated incident.”
A juvenile has been identified as an arson suspect, police said. The suspect has not been publicly identified because of their age, but police said the juvenile is not a Forest Acres resident.
Although an arson suspect has been identified, police are continuing to investigate and ask residents in that area to check security cameras and provide investigators with any additional video footage that may be helpful.
Anyone with footage, or more information about the fires, is asked to call police at 803-782-9444, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
There was no word about a motive for the fires.
“We are very thankful that no one was injured and the fires were contained before any structures were damaged,” Police Chief Don Robinson said in the release.
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This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Six fires were set overnight in a busy area, and South Carolina police called them arson."
