17 Cars Set Ablaze on Near West Side
Thursday, Jul 30, 2009 | Updated 1:44 PM CST
Kim Christian
At least 17 vehicles were set on fire last night in various parts of the city. The fires are classified as arsons, police said.
At least 17 vehicles were apparently intentionally set on fire at separate locations in the Humboldt Park and Ukrainian Village neighborhoods early Tuesday, the Sun-Times reported. Police are classifying all the fires as arsons.
Seven vehicles were found burning in the 1600 block of North Keeler Avenue in the Humboldt Park community about 4:15 a.m., according to a sergeant from the Chicago police Bomb and Arson Section.
Arianna Jackson was one of the people whose cars were burned.
"When I first saw it, I thought it was an accident," she said. "Police explained what happened."
A short time later, six more vehicles were found on fire about a mile east in the 1600 block of North Spaulding Avenue about 4:45 a.m. It appeared that one car was set on fire on one side of Spaulding and the flames spread to two other vehicles, while three other cars were burning on the opposite side of Spaulding, according to the sergeant.
Pete Byrd was one of the second group of victims. He said his car "is toast."
Four more vehicles — making 17 in all — were found on fire near West Erie and North Wood streets in Ukranian Village around 5:40 a.m., according to Wood District police. It does not appear anyone was injured in the fires, which have been extinguished, police said.
Jackson had a message for whoever is responsible for destroying her car.
"Just think if it were something you worked so hard for. How would you feel?" she said.
Copyright SunTimes / NBC Chicago
Posted Thursday, Jul 30, 2009 - 1:44 PM CST
