During Tuesday’s Bogalusa City Council meeting, Fire Chief Richard Moody notified the council and the public that there is one or more arsonists setting structure fires in the Terrace.

“At this time last year we had an arsonist,” Moody said. “They started off at 9 o’clock at night and got later and later until it was about 2 o’clock in the morning.”

He said this year it has started again, but now is occurring at any time of the day.

“We had a couple in August, but in October it really got started,” Moody said. “We can’t tell if they’re trying to demolish blighted properties, or if it’s just malicious vandalism. I haven’t studied a lot on arsonists or pyromaniacs.”

Moody said the arsons present hazards to neighboring structures and to his firefighters.

He said four of the eight structure fires the BFD responded to in October were deliberately set.

“So far, they’ve only been in the Terrace,” Moody said. “A duplex by the Charter School was set on fire, and the brand new construction got me concerned.

“The state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating them all. They’re working on some leads.

“But I want to tell the public to pay attention. If you see something suspicious, call the Central Fire Station at 985-732-6219, and tell what you saw to anybody who answers.”

He said callers can remain anonymous.