Police Warn of North Side Alleyway Garbage Fires

Police are warning North Side residents after six fires were set in several Lincoln Park and Lake View alleyways over the course of an hour early Monday morning. 

Police say the fires were started in garbage cans, and in some cases spread to nearby garages.

The fires occurred at:

  • 4:28 a.m. in the 2800 block of North Cambridge
  • 5:04 a.m. in the 1100 block of West Oakdale
  • 5:09 a.m. in the 2900 block of North Seminary
  • 5:16 a.m. in the 700 block of West Oakdale
  • 5:24 a.m. in the 1100 block of West Wolfram
  • 5:28 a.m. in the 2700 block of North Racine

Many residents were shocked to hear it was arson, thinking it was lightning strikes or some sort of accident in the normally quiet neighborhoods.

"I'm very, very surprised. And I really thought that that was an accident," said resident Hannele Delorme. "I don't understand who could do that, and why."

While neighbors said most of the damage was contained to either the trash or recycling bins themselves, some said the Wolfram fire came dangerously close to a parked car.

Police are asking area residents to spread the word about what happened, and to only leave out bulky items on designated pick-up days. They also ask that anyone with surveillance footage or information on the fires contact the police.

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