Fire officials kept busy with investigations in Cairo, Ill.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Illinois state fire marshal Charles Caldwell has been a busy man.

Monday afternoon, Caldwell was deep into investigating a fire that broke out at 408 Martin Luther King Ave. in Cairo late Sunday. The investigation was his third in Cairo in nine days.

The Cairo Fire Department was called out to the residence, originally thought vacant, around 10 p.m. Fire chief John Meyer said heavy smoke was coming from the basement windows when firefighters arrived.

A couch could be seen from the home's entrance and pairs of tennis shoes were on the front porch Monday, giving the impression the residence had been occupied.

"There was a guy who lived here, but there was no one home," Meyer said.

Fire destroyed three Cairo, Ill., businesses Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010. across from the Alexander County Courthouse. (Fred Lynch)

No one was injured in the fire, but a dog was found dead on the back porch and a brown pit bull, said by Meyer to have escaped the fire, wandered the yard next to the home.

Caldwell has completed investigating a fire that hit two homes Thursday on 21st Street and an Oct. 24 fire that destroyed Hong Kong, the city's Chinese restaurant. Because paperwork is still being reviewed in Springfield, Ill., he said he couldn't comment about his findings.

The Oct. 24 fire in the 2000 block of Washington Avenue also destroyed the restaurant owner's living space above Hong Kong, a former antique shop and an old, vacant lounge called the Speakeasy.

The cause of the residential fires remain undetermined, Meyer said, and the investigation will continue.

Additionally, Meyer said he understands concerns Cairo residents may have after all the unexplained activity.

"I do want everyone to be diligently looking out. Please call the police if you see anything suspicious," he said. "We need help. We can't be everywhere."

Cairo Public Library director Monica Smith said the fires have been devastating for the community, especially when they involve a historic building and a family's home.

The former Speakeasy and the Chinese restaurant were part of a structure that was built in 1889 and was originally home to a grocery store.

"This affects our community's tax bases and revenues. It affects us in a lot of ways," Smith said. "People don't realize how much."

The recent series of fires is anything but surprising to residents, as the department has recorded more than 35 suspicious fires since 2007. In September 2007, crews battled eight fires in less than a month, including a blaze that destroyed a restaurant, a grocery store, a car, vacant and occupied homes.

A lot of the arson investigations remain unsolved because evidence was destroyed in the fire.

The recent fires prompted downtown business owner Patricia Amos to seek out additional insurance coverage Monday. Amos, owner of K.J. Naps Beauty and Supplies, said she isn't the only property owner downtown concerned about the suspicious activity.

"We're all wondering what in the world is going on," said Amos, who has lived in the Cairo area for 15 years. "I've invested too much for something like that to happen here."

Rose Gayle Pickett, Cairo Community Education Center director of curriculum and instruction, said there's been talk among residents that children are responsible for the recent fires. Considering the frequency and the damage the fires have caused, Pickett said, she doesn't think children could be to blame.

"I really think they would have told on each other by now," said Pickett, who has worked in the district for 30 years. "People are really getting nervous and concerned with the frequency."

With the recent closure of the district's two elementary schools, Pickett has her own worries.

"One is two blocks from the Speakeasy," she said. "It worries me someone would torch it. Luckily there's still an alarm in the school."

Cairo police chief Timothy Brown was occupied in court Monday and was unavailable for comment about the investigation. Meyer said police are doing some interviews for the fire department and are assisting in the efforts to determine a cause.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent Address:

408 Martin Luther King Ave., Cairo, IL

2000 Washington Ave., Cairo, IL

21st Street, Cairo, IL