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Photo Pru Sowers
Tom Biggert stands in front of the damage done in the eighth suspicious fire, which occurred at 473 Commercial St. on Oct. 31. |
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Photo Pru Sowers
A firefighter at the only daylight arson scene so far, at 2 Commercial St. |
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Fears spread with fire threat
By Pru Sowers
Banner Staff
PROVINCETOWN — A rumor made its way through town late Monday afternoon even faster than lightning-quick gossip usually travels here. The arsonist had been caught.
He — and everyone believes it’s a “he” — had turned himself in, remorseful that the latest fire had come dangerously close to injuring a firefighter. Callers from as far away as New York City were phoning the Banner to see if the rumors were true.
They weren’t, dashing the hopes and feeding the fears of a town suddenly afraid for its life. Police are still searching for clues, trying to profile the person or persons responsible for what are now 11 suspicious fires. The first one started on Oct. 23.
The last fire, on Nov. 2, was the most devastating, gutting the interior of an unoccupied home at 9 Oppen Lane. Police dogs tracked a scent from the home to a nearby parking area where it ended, indicating the arsonist left in a car. But that’s about all they know.
Fear is a foreign emotion for Provincetown residents, who pride themselves on facing brutal nor’easters, pulling food from a tempestuous ocean and reveling in desolate winters that leave them increasingly isolated as more and more of their neighbors abandon the town for warmer and more lively locales.
But those are old challenges, things you can see coming and prepare for. This new fear, the fire, is utterly random. People don’t know when, they don’t know where and they don’t know who.
It’s that last unknown that is perhaps the most difficult. In a town that truly considers itself a community, people are suddenly looking at their neighbors wondering, “Are you the 5’10” gray-haired white male seen leaving the scene of the eighth fire on the Murchison property Oct. 31?”
“Every time I walk I look at everyone as a suspect,” said Marjorie Raitman, a long-time Provincetown resident. “I’ve been in this town for 40 years and never had that fear. It’s taken away our innocence, our freedom.”
“It’s a form of terrorism, really. That’s what it is,” echoed Mick Rudd, president of Provincetown’s library board of trustees.
Police aren’t releasing much information, not wanting to tip off the arsonist with what they know and don’t know. Acting Chief Warren Tobias would only say that patrols have been increased. Jennifer Mieth, spokesperson for the state fire marshal’s office said her office, the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Dept., state troopers and canine units are working together on the investigation.
But there is a clear need for information. Tobias and Mieth are urging people to call them if they see any suspicious people or activity. The arson hotline number is (800) 682-9229.
“Arson is particularly difficult to solve. I would urge people to continue to call us because every little bit could help us break the case,” Tobias said.
“[Residents] depend on us,” Fire Chief Mike Trovato said. “And we’re depending on them to help us catch this guy. The only way we’re going to get him is if someone sees him.”
In the meantime, people are trying to protect themselves in the only ways they know how. They’re turning their porch lights on at night. They’re leaving their televisions on when they go out for the evening to let the “gentleman arsonist” — as one firefighter dubbed him because he has so far burned unoccupied buildings and usually in the early evening — know they are there. They gather in clusters at the Grand Union, the post office, Joe Coffee, exchanging information and hypothesizing about who the arsonist is, old grievances often coming to the surface.
There are also acts of generosity and concern, acts that define the spirit of a town struggling to stay on its feet. Year-rounders are calling their summer neighbors offering to turn on lights and keep an eye on their homes. Joanne Colucci, owner of Provincetown Property Watch, has told her clients she will be doing regular property checks for free for a while. She also has fielded several telephone calls from builders wanting to hire her to guard their construction sites at night — a target of the arsonist.
“All these construction sites are calling me because they’re afraid,” she said, adding, “I hate to do business this way, I really do.”
And those who have suffered the most are trying to pick up the pieces and understand what has happened to them. Chris Pula and Tom Biggert own the house at 473 Commercial St. that was struck Oct. 31. The building, the former home of Admiral Donald MacMillan, was undergoing renovation when the arsonist crept inside the building, found a blowtorch left by a plumber, turned it on and left it burning at the base of a second floor wall. Ironically, the fact that it was Halloween saved the house. Trick-or-treaters knocking on the door saw flames and called police. Firefighters were able to halt the fire before it did extensive damage.
“Of course I’m angry,” Biggert said. “Someone came into my house and did something hateful. But he hates the town, not me. I don’t feel it was personal.”
“We are so blessed in this town,” added Pula. “Tons of firefighters showed up instantly. They were very quick and extraordinarily brave and conscientious. They risked everything for a couple of schmucks who own a house. This is happening to them, too.”
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FYI local information
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Nov 8th, 2007