Officials concerned about rash of arsons in U. City

A fire Friday night in University City marked the 19th arson in the area since late August, according to Willie Williams, acting captain of the Philadelphia Fire Department's Fire Prevention Unit. The fire, at Syl-Mar Apartments on 50th and Spruce streets, fit the pattern of 18 previous fires set along Chestnut and Pine streets from 43rd to 49th streets, Williams said. The arsons have all occurred in the buildings' basements or storage rooms between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Harold Hairston has said of the arsonists, "have match, will travel" because they seem to come unprepared to each scene, using whatever garbage or other materials they find. The fires have not affected buildings where University students and staff reside, according to Assistant Director for Off-Campus Living Michaela Farcas. But Farcas and West Philadelphia landlords are watching the situation carefully, noting that the arsons are in the immediate area of Penn student and staff housing. There have been two fires on Buckingham Place, between 44th and 45th streets, where University affiliates lease 50 percent of the units, said University City Housing Division Manager Bill Groves. West Philadelphia Landlord Association member Scott Orens said the blazes that have plagued Buckingham Place residents could become a problem for students living on other blocks if the arsons persist. "The arsons have been a little further than most of the Penn housing boundary, but if it continues it could be problem for Penn," Orens said. Although University officials are prepared for future arsons that could affect staff or students, they are not yet alarmed, according to Office of Community Relations Director Glenn Bryan. "The University Police have been alerted to keep their eyes and ears open to the possibility of anything like this on or nearer to campus," Bryan said. Farcas noted that Hairston contacted her to obtain a list of off-campus landlords and to warn students about the recent fires. Meanwhile, Farcas said she has has been distributing safety information to students and is continuing to watch the situation carefully. "If any situation comes to my attention we will handle it proactively," Farcas said. "We are working on such a situation now where a student has had to fight with the landlord to get a lock put on the front door [to keep out potential arsonists]." The Office of Community Relations is helping the Philadelphia License and Inspection Department in checking fire code standards in off-campus buildings -- an effort concentrated on residences nearer to campus and therefore further from the sites of the blazes. Hairston has advised students of a number of safety measures to thwart potential arsonists including locking doors, not letting strangers in to buildings and securing windows and utility storage areas, according to Williams. Due to the methods the arsonists are using, Williams advised residents and landlords to "make sure trash is in the proper containers and secured until its disposal." Students should also be aware that while landlords are covered by building insurance, individual property is only covered under tenant insurance or their parents' homeowners policy, according to Orens. Although there have not been any injuries from the arsons, Williams said early discovery prevented human injury and significant loss of property. Students are advised to call the Arson Hotline at 922-6000 if they notice anything suspicious.