The Key West Citizen

CHIEF BAKER URGES POLICE TO INVESTIGATE: WILL DEMAND 20-YEAR PENALTY FOR OFFENDERS

There's going to be a 20-year penalty for the firebug who is responsible for the approximately 125 fires that have been set all over the city in the last two months. Fire Chief Harry Baker said today that the full extent of the law allows a penalty of 20 years for anyone over 21 years of age who is apprehended of this dangerous and fanatical work, and that he will insist on the extreme penalty for the firebug he catches in this city. Suspicion is on several parties, the chief said, and police are investigating their sections. When one is caught he will immediately be arrested. "Those fires are being set for the fun of it-just to see the engine come tearing down the street", the chief said. "Most of the fires have been set in vacant lots in dry grass. During the month of February there were 85 calls to the department, in March there were 40 and this month they're starting out again and have had the engine out 10 times. "The persons setting off these fires are endangering the lives of pedestrians when the engine races through the city streets. Several of the fires have threatened city blocks-the one Saturday night being just behind a row of houses on United street that would have quickly gone up in smoke if the fire had gotten out of control and also endangered the gas reservoir at the gas plant, which might have started a city-wide fire by an explosion.