BELCHERTOWN — A Webster man is charged with setting five fires in Belchertown and Springfield over the past several months.
John J. Noga, 58, was arrested Thursday on four counts of burning of property and one count of arson of a dwelling, according to a joint statement from police and fire officials in both communities along with the state fire marshal.
No one was injured in any of the fires, which took place on three dates from March to June.
On March 29, the Belchertown Fire Department responded to 109 Stebbins St. and extinguished a fire that damaged the exterior of the building.
On May 31 and June 1, a fire burned trash and debris in a parking lot at 361 Taylor St. in Springfield. The fire department put out the first fire and bystanders put out the second one, according to the joint statement.
The fourth and fifth fires burned brush near 109 Stebbins St. in Belchertown on June 1. Civilians put out the first fire that day and the fire department put out the second one.
“Fortunately, there were no injuries reported and no residents displaced in any of these incidents,” the fire service and law enforcement officials jointly stated. “But any of them could have grown into a dangerous or even deadly situation.”
The statement was issued by Belchertown Fire Chief John S. Ingram, Belchertown Police Chief Christopher Pronovost, Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi, Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey.
The fires were jointly investigated by the Belchertown Fire and Police departments, the Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad and the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office.
Investigators did not immediately reveal the arsonist’s alleged motive.
Last year, the officials said, there were 600 arsons reported in Massachusetts, causing more than $3 million in damage and injuring nine firefighters and five civilians.
Anyone with information can provide an anonymous tip by calling the Arson Watch Reward Program at 1 (800) 682-9229.
Brian Steele can be reached at bsteele@gazettenet.com.