LAWRENCE COUNTY Officials to put together team to investigate fires

State police statistics show the city has had 20 arson fires.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- An arson investigation team is being formed in Lawrence County to combat a rash of unsolved fires in the past six months.
District Attorney Matthew Mangino is organizing the team that will be composed of municipal police officers who will be empowered with multijurisdictional authority to investigate arson throughout the county.
During the past six months, the estimated arson-related property loss in New Castle has been $644,000, Mangino said.
Statistics: Pennsylvania State Police statistics show the city has had 33 fires in the past six months, and 20 were ruled arson. The cause of nine fires is not known and four were accidental, they said.
"Arson has been a problem in the city of New Castle and Lawrence County for many years," Mangino said. "Some people look at arsons and insurance claims as a way of making easy money. That has to stop."
The state police fire marshal will work with local police, and Michael Bonner, assistant district attorney, will handle all arson prosecution, Mangino said.
The team will also be composed of police officers from New Castle, Ellwood City and one additional officer and an alternate from the remaining municipal police departments.
Training will be done by various sources including the state and the state police.
Mangino said the team should be fully mobile in the next month or two and will be funded by his office.