MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — When Morgantown Council meets Tuesday to discuss expanded authority for the city’s fire marshal’s they’ll do it on the heels of 4 active dumpster or trash fire investigations.
Morgantown Police and WVU Police are reviewing surveillance video after someone set fires at North High Street near Boreman Hall, Wiles Street, Naomi Street and Price Street.
“Boreman Hall is a student residence. It’s a dormitory. Obviously, when you have that many people and a dumpster near that building, you have a very bad potential for outcome there were a lot of people’s lives are put in jeopardy,” commented Ed Preston, Morgantown Police Chief.
WVU police released three surveillance photos of two men Monday in connection with the dumpster fire near Boreman. The men in the photos have since been identified according to a social media post by the department. It did not indicate charges or arrests.
Morgantown is just 3 years removed from a national study ranking it #2 in the nation for dumpster fires, more than cities such as Los Angeles, San Antonio or Philadelphia.
The numbers since then have improved Preston said.
“But, regardless, it needs to stop. We’re going to continue to arrest and charge people. It’s malicious and idiotic crimes absolutely 100 percent preventable because someone is making a conscious choice. It’s arson when you get right down to it.”
An additional 175 hours of training in law enforcement is required for the fire marshals to make arrests. Morgantown police have helped in the process.
“Arrest, search and seizure, firearms, pepper spray, handcuffing, there are a lot of different procedures. We’ve been assisting in their training. When and if they get the opportunity to make arrests, they will be fully trained,” Preston explained.
Morgantown Council requested an allowance from the state home rule board to consider granting fire marshals arrest powers. That request was approved in mid September.
Council must propose and pass an ordinance on 2 readings before fire marshals could act on their new authority.
Saturday morning’s dumpster and trash can fires were set 9 hours prior to WVU’s football game in Morgantown against the University of Maryland.
All 4 fires were reported between 5:16 a.m. and 5:42 a.m.