Too many fires

A deliberately set fire damaged a house this week in south Cape Girardeau. This was another in a string of fires that have occurred in the same area. Police and fire officials believe at least some of the fires may have been set by the same person.

Most of the fires have occurred in vacant houses, but a fire last week at Steve Spurgeon's house on South Ellis Street was in an occupied residence. Spurgeon wasn't home at the time of the fire.

Spurgeon is angry about how his neighborhood has declined in the years since he bought his home. In addition to the suspicious fires, the area is known for drug dealing. A drive through the area shows the scars of boarded-up houses and houses with black patches from fires.

In the hope that someone knows who is setting the fires, Spurgeon is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible. The Cape Girardeau CrimeStoppers, an anonymous hot line for providing information, also is offering a $1,000 reward. And there is a state hot line that will pay a reward of up to $5,000.

Is $7,000 enough to get someone to come forward with accurate information about these fires? It may be an incentive in some cases. But surely a sense of responsibility to family, friends and neighbors to provide any pertinent information. All it takes is a call to the Cape Girardeau Police Department or CrimeStoppers (332-0500).