Arson fire in Lakeview may be linked to recent spree

Locations of Wednesday’s fire (black) and six arson fires set on Oct. 15

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An arsonist set fire to a dumpster Wednesday night in the same area where six similar fires were intentionally set on Oct. 15. Police are looking for the offender.

Police and fire personnel responded to the latest fire just before 11 p.m. on the 600 block of West Diversey. Surveillance video shows a man apparently pouring a liquid into the dumpster and setting it on fire around 10:45 p.m.

The offender wore a gray hoodie that has a black trim around the waist and a white logo in the middle.

October 15th fires

An arsonist set fire to six dumpsters in Lakeview and Lincoln Park during the early morning hours of Oct. 15. One of those fires spread to a nine-car residential garage on the 700 block of West Schubert. Another fire singed the wooden deck of an apartment building on the 500 block of West Diversey.

The Schubert fire damaged a garage that houses nine vehicles. | Provided

No injuries were reported in the fires.

A homeowner’s surveillance camera captured images of the Oct. 15th arsonist setting one of the fires by throwing a burning piece of paper into the trash receptacle. He is a slender man of unknown race who stands 5’5” to 5’9” tall. He wore a white or tan baseball hat with a dark jacket or coat.