The Philadelphia Area Arson Task Force is probing a spade of deliberating set car fires, which occurred early Wednesday morning.
Eight auto arsons were reported between 4:00 and 5:00 this morning. It appears as though the vehicles were doused with flammable material and lit on fire.
The first fire was reported at 4:18 a.m. along the 5000 block of F Street. Then at 4:38 a.m., a second fire was report on the 5100 block of N. 2nd Street. A third vehicle was discovered on the 4900 block of N. 2nd Street. A fourth incident was reported at 4:59 a.m. at 3rd and Bristol Streets and involved three vehicles. The seventh vehicle was reported at 5:14 a.m. on the 4900 block of Whittaker Avenue and the final vehicle was reported at 5:21 a.m. along the 300 block of E. Sheldon Street.
It's unclear who owns some of the vehicles. Neighbors say one of the vehicles, a green minivan, just appeared on the street several weeks ago and hasn't moved since. Just a block away, a similar story - a black Taurus set on fire overnight has been sitting idle for over six months.
Neighbors have tried to get the city to tow the seemingly abandoned cars prior to the fire, but because the cars are currently registered, they were told that wasn't possible.
Each of the fires were quickly extinguish by firefighters. No one was injured. The investigation into the auto arsons continues.
