7th suspicious fire in past month breaks out in Forest Hills, Queens

ByMallory Hoff, Eyewitness News WABC logo
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Seven recent fires in Forest Hills concerns residents, FDNY
CeFaan Kim reports from Forest Hills.

FOREST HILLS, N.Y. (WABC) -- There have been seven suspicious fires since late last month and that has neighbors asking questions.

Now, there's a note from the person investigators believe is responsible for the fires.

A home was burned Wednesday night and the note was left behind.

"We don't feel safe anymore in this area," said Luba Zavulunova, a resident.

Flames tore through a home under construction on 67th Drive in Forest Hills just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Neighbors captured videos of the fire that illuminated the night sky from a distance.

"The flames were just pouring, up in the air huge, huge flames," said Trudy Emanuel, a resident.

Arson investigators made a discovery as they combed through the ashes on 67th Drive.

They say that's where they recovered a note. The note had a riddle on it appearing to taunt investigators.

Fire Marshals have determined that four of the recent fires are connected, and three of those are arson.

They are still trying to determine if the fourth was deliberately set.

Those fires took place on November 8th on 112th Street, November 15th on 69th Road, November 17th on 66th Avenue and Wednesday night, November 25th on 67th Drive.

"We still haven't found the person responsible for this. But the police department and the fire department are actively looking into it. We hope soon we will have more information but we do not have a suspect," said Dan Nigro, FDNY commissioner.

"I hope police find them, whoever is doing this," Zavulunova said.

Investigators say while they do not have a suspect, they would like to talk to a man who was captured on what they're calling poor quality surveillance video from the November 17th fire.

They say a man appears to be wearing all black and black backpack.