NORTHAMPTON — Two small fires reported in Ward 3 over the holiday weekend were deemed suspicious by police and remained under investigation Tuesday, evoking troubling memories for a community wracked by arson nearly a decade ago, according to City Councilor Ryan R. O’Donnell.
A small fire was reported at 7:56 p.m. Sunday, according to police. Officers were dispatched to the end of Northern Avenue where they found a small burned pile of paper on the side of the dirt path leading to the Northampton bike path. The fire was not active and police determined it was suspicious in nature, according to a statement issued Monday by O’Donnell.
A second fire was reported at 3:43 p.m. Monday behind Walgreens at 225R King St. There was no active fire at the time of the call, but police found a small amount of burned papers on a cement slab. The fire was deemed suspicious by police, according to a statement from O’Donnell on Tuesday.
O’Donnell said he is fully confident that investigators will treat the fires seriously as they move forward. He added that he is committed to keeping the community informed.
“It’s most important for the people to know that the city takes this very seriously,” O’Donnell said. “We want to make sure people have as much information as possible. We’re hoping that actually counteracts any fears we may have as a community.”
As many as six suspicious fires were reported in Ward 3 in mid-to-late March. O’Donnell said that rekindled memories of an arson spree that devastated Ward 3 and led to the deaths of two residents in 2009.
“Memories of what occurred in Ward 3 resonate with the people here,” said O’Donnell.
In December 2009, Paul Yeskie Sr., 81, and his son Paul Yeskie Jr., 39 died in their Fair Street home when it was set ablaze by Anthony Baye.
During a 2013 trial, Baye admitted setting and attempting to set about three dozen fires, mostly in the Ward 3 neighborhood where he lived on Hawley Street, dating back to 2007. Baye pleaded guilty to 48 charges, including two counts of manslaughter. He was sentenced to 19 to 20 years in state prison for causing the deaths of the two men in May 2013.
Two residents of Northern Avenue reacted with varying degrees of concern Tuesday evening when asked about the latest fire.
Tim Messer, who has lived at 49 Northern Ave. for 26 years, said he was not worried about the fire near his home.
He said he did not notice any commotion until police vehicles were at the end of the street, and he assumed the fire had something to do with someone camping in the woods.
Messer added that the activity did not remind him of the arsons. “For me, those two are just so unconnected,” he said.
Rosalind Torrey, of 45 Northern Ave., also lived on Northern Avenue during the earlier arsons.
She said she appreciates O’Donnell and law enforcement keeping residents updated on the most recent fires.
Torrey said she did find the suspicious fire unnerving, but not necessarily because of the earlier arsons.
“We live so close to the bike path,” she said. “We’ve seen needles on there. We’ve had people living in the woods. There’s cause for alarm, because we live so close to the bike path, when something happens on the bike path.”
O’Donnell said residents should report suspicious activity or persons to the Northampton Police Department by calling 413-587-1100.
Intern Jack Evans contributed reporting to this story.