CHARLEROI (KDKA) — Someone is setting fires in one local community and investigators say whoever’s sparking the blazes is getting bolder and putting residents at risk.

The number of suspicions fires in the town of Charleroi is now up to five in the last three weeks.

All of them within blocks of each other.

The latest targets were a couple of garages at 7th and Church streets. They started burning early Friday morning.

The flames damaged two nearby houses.

“The lady was sleeping and didn’t even know there was a fire until we went down there and knocked on her door,” Charleroi VFD Chief Bob Whiten said. “And when you start to hurt the general public, then something has to be done.”

A couple hours later, a resident on that street found a gasoline soaked rag sticking out of the gas tank of his pickup truck.

The state fire marshal is helping Charleroi with the investigation.

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