Authorities offer reward for information on arson

Warren Township firefighters will be collecting clothes for families.
WARREN -- A reward of up to 5,000 is being offered for information to help solve a Warren Township mobile home park fire that left six families homeless.
A spokesman for the state fire marshal's office said Tuesday that the reward is being offered through the Blue Ribbon Arson Reward Committee, a statewide committee that is designed to reduce arson through a reward system.
The spokesman said fire marshal investigators are interested in talking with anyone who thinks they have information, no matter how minor they believe it is.
Those with information should call (800) 589-2728.
Five fires were set
Six families were left homeless early Monday morning when five separate fires were set at the Villager Mobile Home Park on Peach Lane off Tod Avenue.
Fire Chief Kenneth Schick said firefighters were called to the park about 5:45 a.m. by a resident.
Schick said that someone set fire to five sheds between and in back of the mobile homes, and the flames spread to the homes. There were no injuries.
Two residences were destroyed and five may not be repairable, the chief said. One was vacant.
Residents were forced to get help from the Trumbull County Chapter of the American Red Cross, and some went to live with relatives.
Some former residents returned to the park Tuesday to retrieve what valuables they could find, the chief said.
Schick said those he talked with said they are eager for the arsonist to be caught.
No damage estimate has been determined.
The chief explained that some of the mobile homes are old and others newer, making an estimate difficult, and some sheds stored more belongings than others.
Taking donations
Meanwhile, Warren Township firefighters will be collecting donated clothing, including those for a 20-month-old baby, and personal items for those who were burned out.
The effort is being headed by fire Lt. Ben Armstrong.
Those with donations for the six families can drop them off from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the fire station, 179 Dover St.