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Fire officials in Polk County believe someone may be intentionally setting recent fires

Posted at 6:36 PM, Apr 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-12 18:36:09-04

Fire investigators now believe the five fires in the last two days in the Indian Lakes Estates area of Polk County may have been intentionally set.

All the fires have been contained, but crews are still on stand by incase any of them flair back up.

“All of these fires are suspicious,” said Todd Chlanda with the Florida Forest Service.

Investigators have ruled out lightning and controlled burns and they say the fires are not naturally occurring.

The fires come just about six weeks after the a raging fire in the area destroyed 12 homes and hundreds of cabins in the River Ranch community.

Gloria Lacey evacuated during that fire, and she almost got in the car again on Monday to get away from another brush fire.

“You have to have time to get out,” she said. “You could get stuck in there with no way to get out.”

Officials are now putting up posters, hoping to generate clues that may lead them to the potential arsonist.