Winston-Salem, NC -- The police and fire departments are investigating several arsons in and around the downtown area.
Each of the fires have similar characteristics, according to police.
The most recent fire was started Aug. 28 behind a vacant building on E. Seventh St. The fire started in the kudzu near a set of railroad tracks and traveled to the roof of the building.
Students, faculty and staff at the nearby Arts Based Elementary School were forced to evacuate because of the school's proximity to the building.
Here's a list of the other recent arson cases:
Aug. 27 - Police responded to reported vandalism on Haled St. Someone burned the ground around a gazebo, broke a bench inside the gazebo and damaged a sprinkler system nearby. This was ruled an arson.
Aug. 24 - A fire at the Wingate Hotel on S. Main St. started in the landscape area on the south side of the building and spread to an air conditioning unit. There were no injuries, and this was also ruled an arson.
Aug. 18: Someone intentionally set fire to the dumpster in the alleyway between the Steven Center and the Winston-Salem Journal.
July 29: A brush fire in the grass on the north side of the US Bankruptcy Court Building was ruled an arson. While fighting this fire, crews received a call about another brush fire on W. First St. This was also ruled an arson.
There were two landscape fires at 125 S. Main St. on July 27 and 30. These were followed by two more on N. Liberty St. Aug. 4 and under the U.S. 421 bridge Aug. 17. All were set intentionally.
Four other fires occurred in the months of May and June, but have not been ruled arsons.
If you have any information on these cases, call Winston-Salem police or fire at (336) 773-7700 or Crimestoppers at (336) 727-2800.
WSPD