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Arson Fires Reach 64 on Virginia's Eastern Shore

By: Bryan Russo // March 9, 2013
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Police and fire officials on Virginia's Eastern Shore say 10 arson fires set in Accomack County this week marks the most on record since the serial arson fires began five months ago.

So far, 64 arson fires have been set in the small county of 33,000 people, since November. This past week saw at least one arson fire each night, except for Wednesday, when the region was drenched in heavy rains from a winter nor'easter.

Police are desperate to solve this growing mystery, offering a $25,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to an arrest or conviction.

They believe there are a handful of culprits, and say the arsonists are mostly targeting abandoned buildings. But they fear the arsonists have more than enough potential targets, as officials say there are more than 650 vacant structures in the county.

And after 64 fires, residents are more angry, than they are afraid, as they watch structures synonymous with their community's history burned to the ground with flames of malicious intent.

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