LORAIN — Lorain fire and police are putting together a task force to investigate five suspected arson fires at vacant homes in South Lorain.

The task force will be looking at whether the fires are related, according to Lorain fire Capt. Tom Baker.

He said firefighters and detectives will also search for possible causes — such as whether the fires were set by vagrants or as part of gang initiations.

The rash of arson fires — 12 since June — are a big concern, according to Lorain Fire Chief Tom Brown.

“It’s a disaster waiting to happen,” Brown said. “Arson is a very serious crime.”

The danger to residents in nearby homes is the biggest concern, Brown said. Fires in vacant homes can go undetected for some time and can set nearby structures on fire, Brown said. The lives of neighbors and firefighters are at risk, he said.

“We’ve been very, very lucky on all of these fires,” he said.

Baker said the investigation by the task force will focus on five fires within South Lorain that appear to be arson because they occurred in homes where gas and electricity were disconnected. Four of the fires are within blocks of each other while the fire on Maple Drive is located in a different part of South Lorain, according to Baker.

Brown, the fire chief, urged people with information to call the Fire Prevention Bureau at 204-2222. He also urged residents to be vigilant in their neighborhoods.

“If people see suspicious activity and see people hanging around these vacant homes, jot down license plate numbers or descriptions,” Brown said.

Meanwhile, two juveniles face charges in connection with arson fires June 22 and June 26 at 122 E. 30th Street, Baker said.

Baker declined to elaborate on why the task force will look into the possibility that the fires could have been set by prospective members of gangs. He also declined to talk about specific evidence that has been gathered in connection with the arsons.

“We’ve spent a great deal of time knocking on doors interviewing potential witnesses,” Baker said.

The possible involvement of vagrants also will be investigated because some of the fires could have been caused by people trying to cook in structures with no gas or electricity, he said.

People were seen removing boards from doors and entering the home at 1624 E. 33rd St. at times before that fire broke out Sept. 4, according to Lorain fire Assistant Chief Anthony Cuevas.

Lorain fire Capt. Tom Sultzer said vagrants also were known to stay in the home at 2108 E. 28th St. He said nearby residents told firefighters they reported to authorities that the home had been entered.

The task force’s first meeting takes place today and involves Lorain police Sgt. Mark McCoy and several detectives.

The police have access to information fire officials don’t, according to Baker, such as LEADS computer data with criminal records of possible suspects and other data.

The five fires in South Lorain that are the target of the probe have caused quite a bit of damage, according to fire reports.

In addition to $184,000 in damage to the structures, the firefighting effort on Sept. 6 to extinguish the blaze at 1704 E. 29th St. ruptured waterlines, forcing city crews to work many hours on a Sunday afternoon and evening to repair them.

3 weeks, 5 arsons in South Lorain

• Aug. 19: 4306 Maple Drive, fire reported at 3:25 a.m. caused $30,000 damage to a home valued at $30,000
• Aug. 22: 408 E. 27th St., fire reported at 8:28 p.m. caused $15,000 damage to a home valued at $40,000
• Aug. 24: 2108 E. 28th St., fire reported at 6:01 p.m. caused $80,000 damage to a home valued at $80,000
• Sept. 4: 1624 E 33rd St., fire reported at 12:29 p.m. caused $44,000 damage to a home valued at $44,000
• Sept. 6: 1704 E. 29th St., fire reported at 2:56 p.m. caused $15,000 damage to a home valued at $28,000

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.