By Phil Anderson
Topeka Capital-Journal
TOPEKA, Kan. — Topeka fire crews were kept busy in the predawn hours of Thursday morning as they responded to three blazes that occurred within about 45 minutes of each other just west of downtown.
The fires were believed to have been intentionally set.
The first blaze was reported at 4:45 a.m. in the west alleyway of the 600 block of S.W. Tyler, where first-arriving crews found an old ambulance on fire.
The old ambulance was parked facing the east side of a garage. Crews put out the blaze and contained it to the vehicle.
A Topeka fire investigator was called to the scene and was collecting evidence around 6 a.m.
At 4:58 a.m., firefighters were called to the 500 block of S.W. 10th, about four blocks to the south, where a dumpster was ablaze. Crews quickly extinguished that fire, as well.
Then, at 5:33 a.m., another small fire was reported, this one on the front porch of a building at S.W. 6th and Western, about three blocks west of the vehicle blaze. The porch fire was reported out at 5:39 a.m.
A series of arsons occurred in the same area several years ago. At least two of the arsons occurred in virtually the same location as Thursday morning’s fires on S.W. Tyler and S.W. 6th.
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