Arsons on Eastern Shore reach 50

ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) - After dozens of arson cases in Accomack County during the past three months, 10 On Your Side found out just how much manpower is being used on the Eastern Shore.

An attempted arson in the Hallwood section of Accomack County Thursday evening bumped the number of intentional fires in the area to 50 since mid-November.

Thursday evening's fire sparked around 9 p.m . in the 12000 block of Mears Station Road in Hallwood . There were no injuries and the structure suffered minimal damage to the back of it.

The Accomack Public Safety Department's 14 volunteer fire departments have been deploying approximately 20 firefighters to each fire. They spend a couple of hours at each scene and after 50 arsons, it is estimated they have spent 2,000 hours working at the scenes of the fires, mostly at night.

State Police are also involved in the investigations.

"Right now, we have arson investigators from the State Police that have come across from other parts of the state," Sgt. Michelle Anaya with Virginia State Police said. "We also have ATF and local agencies assisting us."

A reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction rose from $5,000 to $25,000 this week. 

Call 757-655-1437 if you have any information.