GUAM - A rash of local fires is raising suspicions of arson. Guam News Factor was on the scene of three of those fires in Hagatna in the last week, including one that may have threatened explosion on Route 4 Tuesday evening.

Five fires in two weeks. One in Dededo. One in Piti. And three in Hagatna. All the blazes scorched through abandoned buildings except a Hagatna house inferno on Tuesday night. The flames crept dangerously close to the Mobil gas station near the four-way intersection by Agana Shopping Center. The fire raged ominously close to gas pumps, but even closer to underground petroleum tanks.

"That's totally dangerous! I hope they shut down their tanks!" said eye witness Neil Calderon.

"Yeah, it was huge! I mean it was really huge," said onlooker Linda Perez. "It was kind of scary. We thought it was the gas station."

Johnny Rivera was also in the neighborhood picking up his children from the Agana Pool soon after he noticed smoke from afar. "It was really hot. You should've seen it, boy. Huge flames flying even higher than the roof."

Led by the Guam Fire Department, police and fire officials are conducting a series of joint investigations into the causes of the mysterious fires.

Fire Department spokesman Joey San Nicolas says the Guam Police Department Crime Lab is on standby to analyze evidence from all five blazes.

Right now the focus is on Tuesday night's fire.

"They have not ruled out arson," San Nicolas said. "They have not ruled out accidental as well."

Rivera suspects a fire starter on foot. "It sounds to me like you've got an arsonist on your hands," he said. "Maybe someone's trying to clean up Agana of eye sores, I don't know."

Also on the table as a cause for Tuesday night's blaze? Electricity. Fire officials confirm the home was still receiving power and water when it ignited.

No injuries or deaths were reported after firefighters snuffed out flames. High-ranking sources within Guam's police and fire departments independently confirm the home's last occupant was Charlie Cepeda. Described as elderly, Cepeda reportedly stopped by to examine what was left of his home Wednesday morning while investigators searched the wreckage.

Guam News Factor stopped by the GPD crime lab on Wednesday to gather more information on the string of fires. But Latent Finger Print Examiner Gil Mondia could not allow us to tour forensic testing areas, because specialists were analyzing sensitive evidence unrelated to these fires.

He assured us, however, that the Factor may prearrange a tour with Captain Manny Babauta. Guam News Factor continues to monitor police and fire department findings. GFD spokesman San Nicolas plans to issue a news release requesting the public's help in determining the cause of
the recent fires.

Story credits: Text by Jeff Marchesseault. Videography by David F. Macaluso and Eli Sommerfleck. Video editing by Bobby Bonifacio, Jr. and Eli Sommerfleck. Research and videography assistance by John Dela Rosa.

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