Arsonist Wanted in Wardville

On Wednesday, the State Fire Marshal’s office is looking for the suspected arsonists, responsible for the multiple fires in the Wardville community, including the most recent one from last Thursday. News Channel 5’s Natalie North talked to the frustrated residents who are looking for answers.

Ronald Sewell has been living in the Wardville community for more than 35 years now. But with several fires in his neighborhood in less than a year, Ronald and his family are worried.

“You never know when you go to work, if you come back and your house might be in flames.”

Ronald and a friend were outside cleaning up the charred remains of what once was an abandoned house that just last Thursday was set on fire.

“People live around here, and we are concerned. I got a family, got children, got a wife. It’s not supposed to happen like that,” said Ronald Sewell.

“It’s kind of scary in a sense because we don’t know who is starting them and we are homeowners and I’m kind of afraid, you don’t know when you will be next,” said Kim Kirts.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office wants it to stop, too. They’re asking for your help. They believe that this past fire was set intentionally and they’re looking for whoever may be responsible.

“Arson is a crime, whether it is an abounded structure or an occupied structure, it’s a crime. We would be glad to award any individual that can give us information that could lead to an arrest,” said Lance Carruth.

This house was in flames just last week, and it was the third fire this community has seen since December. Now the residents are angry and they want answers.

“You never know, we might be next. And we work hard for our houses, to maintain them,” Kirts said.

“We work real hard for what we got, and I love my family, I don’t want anything to happen to them,” Sewell said.

And Ronald has a special message for anyone who may think about setting a fire in his neighborhood. “Don’t get caught back here, because you won’t be leaving from back here, and that is my word.”

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 318-443-7867 or the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office-Arson Division, Investigator Parker at 225-922-1458.

http://www.kalb.com/story/18607473/arsonist-wanted-in-wardville

https://battleofourtimes.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/fires-spark-suspicion/