Uniontown Police are asking for the public’s help identifying who is behind a rash of suspicious fires that broke out across the city in less than 24 hours.
According to the department, multiple fires were intentionally set between late Saturday night and early Monday morning, targeting public restrooms, a dumpster and a passenger van.
The first fire was reported around 2:30 a.m. Sunday at the Uniontown Community Park, where a porta-potty went up in flames. Shortly after, two more porta-potties were set ablaze at the Diamond Baseball Fields off Kreighbaum Road, just minutes away.
Later that same night, a dumpster on Apache Street caught fire.
Then, around 2:30 a.m. Monday, a passenger van parked just steps from the burned dumpster also went up in flames.
Uniontown Police Chief Michael Batchik said the timeline, locations and type of targets suggest the fires are connected.
“The dangers of this could escalate very quickly,” Batchik said. “And we want to make sure we put a stop to it before it does that.”
Authorities believe the suspects were caught on surveillance video. Police say three to four individuals, who appear to be juveniles, were seen near the scenes. One was riding an e-bike, another on a scooter.
Descriptions released by police include one suspect wearing gray sweatpants with a black pocket, and another in a blue hoodie with a white square design on the back.
The department is currently working to enhance the video.
“It’s kinda scary that kids are doing something like setting vehicles on fire,” said Jessica White, who works nearby. “There’s a whole back here with people with kids, pets, everything else ... it could’ve spread to a building. It’s just scary.”
Anyone with surveillance video, doorbell camera footage or information related to the fires is asked to call Uniontown Police at 330-699-6444.
