NORTHAMPTON – Police are warning residents to remove dry leaves, grass and brush away from their homes after several fires involving ornamental grass clumps were reported recently.
In a prepared statement, Northampton Police Chief Jody D. Kasper called five fires reported between March 12 and 21 “suspicious.”
The first incident was reported by a Bates Street resident at 7:18 a.m. March 12. Three to four clumps of dried, ornamental grass had been burned in the yard and were still smoldering at the time of the call.
A North Street resident reported at 10:45 a.m. March 12 that several ornamental grass clumps had been burned.
A person living in a tent along the railroad tracks near King Street reported at 5:52 p.m. March 15 that his tent and belongings inside it had been burned.
A barrel outside Autopart International at 137 King St. was reported to have been lit on fire at 7:25 p.m. March 17. The exterior of the building was damaged.
And at 2 p.m. Monday, a North Street resident reported that several ornamental clumps of grass had been burned.
The incidents remain under investigation by the Northampton Fire Investigation Unit, which is made of of firefighters and police.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com.