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Investigating Cairo fires: Why they are so hard to solve

By Holly Brantley

CAIRO, IL (KFVS) - Easy to call arson, hard to find the fire bug responsible: that's what local and state investigators say about dozens of suspicious, unsolved fires in Cairo.

According to the state fire marshal's office out of Springfield, they've been asked to assist with 58 investigations since September of 2007. In that time, 49 of those cases have been ruled as arson.

In 2010 alone they've been asked to help with 14 investigations. Thirteen of those cases were ruled suspicious. The most recent happened Halloween night at 408 Martin Luther King Avenue. That fire marked the third in eight days.

Fire Chief John Meyer says they believe the fire started in the kitchen. Someone does live in the house, according to Meyer, but they were out of town at the time.

"We have some persons of interest we will be talking to," said Chief Meyer.

Of the three most recent fires, the one on Washington Avenue that included a business and also touched the Alexander County Courthouse is still undetermined. That's the only case of the 14 state investigations have been called in on in 2010 that they have yet to say is intentionally set.

"People need to keep a close eye out," said Chief Meyer.

Meanwhile, people in Cairo say they have had about enough.

"It needs to stop," said Marcus Hines. "It's getting too close to my house. The police had to come and wake us up."

In 2007, state officials say they were called in to check out nine fires, six of those were ruled arson.

In 2008, 17 of 19 fires were called suspicious by state investigators and in 2009, 13 of 16 fires were believed to be intentionally set.

State officials say arson cases are often solved by confessions because the evidence goes up in flames.

Police say they have to be asked to assist in the investigations, and that's something Cairo Police say hasn't happened. They say they are looking into them, but since they haven't been invited to help they don't have access to the evidence involved.

Chief Meyer says he'd like to see an arrest as soon as possible. He says he knows there is talk around town that people think someone in his fire department may be starting the fires but he in no way believes that is the case. He says they only get paid minimum wage for fighting the fires, and none of his men would want to put others in danger.

Stay with Heartland News as we continue to investigate.

From the Southeast Missorian Website...

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By Erin Hevern ~ Southeast Missourian

CAIRO, Ill. -- Illinois state fire marshal Charles Caldwell has been a busy man.

Monday afternoon, Caldwell was deep into investigating a fire that broke out at 408 Martin Luther King Ave. in Cairo late Sunday. The investigation was his third in Cairo in nine days.

The Cairo Fire Department was called out to the residence, originally thought vacant, around 10 p.m. Fire chief John Meyer said heavy smoke was coming from the basement windows when firefighters arrived.

A couch could be seen from the home's entrance and pairs of tennis shoes were on the front porch Monday, giving the impression the residence had been occupied.

"There was a guy who lived here, but there was no one home," Meyer said.

No one was injured in the fire, but a dog was found dead on the back porch and a brown pit bull, said by Meyer to have escaped the fire, wandered the yard next to the home. Caldwell has completed investigating a fire that hit two homes Thursday on 21st Street and an Oct. 24 fire that destroyed Hong Kong, the city's Chinese restaurant. Because paperwork is still being reviewed in Springfield, Ill., he said he couldn't comment about his findings.

The Oct. 24 fire in the 2000 block of Washington Avenue also destroyed the restaurant owner's living space above Hong Kong, a former antique shop and an old, vacant lounge called the Speakeasy.

The cause of the residential fires remain undetermined, Meyer said, and the investigation will continue.

Additionally, Meyer said he understands concerns Cairo residents may have after all the unexplained activity.

"I do want everyone to be diligently looking out. Please call the police if you see anything suspicious," he said. "We need help. We can't be everywhere."

Cairo Public Library director Monica Smith said the fires have been devastating for the community, especially when they involve a historic building and a family's home.

The former Speakeasy and the Chinese restaurant were part of a structure that was built in 1889 and was originally home to a grocery store.

"This affects our community's tax bases and revenues. It affects us in a lot of ways," Smith said. "People don't realize how much."

The recent series of fires is anything but surprising to residents, as the department has recorded more than 35 suspicious fires since 2007. In September 2007, crews battled eight fires in less than a month, including a blaze that destroyed a restaurant, a grocery store, a car, vacant and occupied homes.

A lot of the arson investigations remain unsolved because evidence was destroyed in the fire.

The recent fires prompted downtown business owner Patricia Amos to seek out additional insurance coverage Monday. Amos, owner of K.J. Naps Beauty and Supplies, said she isn't the only property owner downtown concerned about the suspicious activity.

"We're all wondering what in the world is going on," said Amos, who has lived in the Cairo area for 15 years. "I've invested too much for something like that to happen here."

Rose Gayle Pickett, Cairo Community Education Center director of curriculum and instruction, said there's been talk among residents that children are responsible for the recent fires. Considering the frequency and the damage the fires have caused, Pickett said, she doesn't think children could be to blame.

"I really think they would have told on each other by now," said Pickett, who has worked in the district for 30 years. "People are really getting nervous and concerned with the frequency."

With the recent closure of the district's two elementary schools, Pickett has her own worries.

"One is two blocks from the Speakeasy," she said. "It worries me someone would torch it. Luckily there's still an alarm in the school."

Cairo police chief Timothy Brown was occupied in court Monday and was unavailable for comment about the investigation. Meyer said police are doing some interviews for the fire department and are assisting in the efforts to determine a cause.