BARTLESVILLE, Okla. -- A neighborhood on the city's west side cannot shake a sense of fear after a series of structure fires dating back months.
Bartlesville firefighters said they have now put out 14 house fires in the Jane Phillips Addition since July 2017, and they believe that they're all connected to an arsonist.
Whoever set the fires is targeting vacant houses, Bill Hollander with the Bartlesville Fire Department said. The latest happened at an empty home on Maple Avenue on January 21.
Hollander said the arsonist is using similar materials to set each fire, which leads investigators to believe they're all connected.
"I don't know if it's just for grins and giggles or if they're just trying to get rid of abandoned property," Hollander said. "We're not sure what their motivation is yet, but we're working to find out."
Firefighters are now asking the community for their help to put an end to the string of arsons. Anyone with information is urge to call the Bartlesville Fire Department at 918-338-4091.
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