The person who set fire to five vehicles and a porch on the West Side early Friday likely did it for the thrill, officials said.

Charleston firefighters responded to five of the blazes between approximately midnight and 2 a.m., said Capt. Carl Beaver of the Charleston Fire Department. Another was reported at 9 a.m., but that one had smoldered out hours before.

"This is all indicative of an arsonist that enjoys setting fires," Beaver said. "There's no revenge or profit motive. Nobody has reported somebody wanting to take revenge on them."

No one was injured in any of the fires, Beaver said. Two of the vehicles were destroyed, and the porch incurred about $1,000 in damages.

The first vehicle fire broke out at 510 Randolph St., Beaver said. Three more vehicles were set ablaze on Garrison Avenue, and one more on Bigley Avenue. The porch fire broke out at 205 block of Glen Street.

Investigators determined that the fires were all deliberately set because each started in the passenger compartment rather than the engine, Beaver said.

In the porch fire, "the only way it could have started is if someone set it," he said.

Investigators are waiting for lab results from the State Police to determine whether the arsonist used an accelerant in any of the fires, he said.

No one witnessed the arsonist set the fires, Beaver said, so investigators hope for a "lucky break," such as a newspaper carrier who might have seen something in the early-morning hours.

The fires don't appear to be related to the work of an arsonist Thursday at the Barge Restaurant Bar & Grill on the Kanawha River, but "anything's possible," Beaver said.

Common motives for arson include profit - such as insurance money - or revenge, he said. But a "very small population" simply enjoys setting fires.

"There's a lot of factors involved. They like watching the fire. They like watching firemen responding to fires," he said. "It's generally a male, a young male, and it's a thrill type thing, a power type thing. And it's a true sickness."

Anyone with information can call the Charleston Fire Department at 348-8058 or the state arson hot line at (800) 233-FIRE. Callers can remain anonymous.

Reach staff writer Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com or 348-1240.

The person who set fire to five vehicles and a porch on the West Side early Friday likely did it for the thrill, officials said.

Charleston firefighters responded to five of the blazes between approximately midnight and 2 a.m., said Capt. Carl Beaver of the Charleston Fire Department. Another was reported at 9 a.m., but that one had smoldered out hours before.

"This is all indicative of an arsonist that enjoys setting fires," Beaver said. "There's no revenge or profit motive. Nobody has reported somebody wanting to take revenge on them."

No one was injured in any of the fires, Beaver said. Two of the vehicles were destroyed, and the porch incurred about $1,000 in damages.

The first vehicle fire broke out at 510 Randolph St., Beaver said. Three more vehicles were set ablaze on Garrison Avenue, and one more on Bigley Avenue. The porch fire broke out at 205 block of Glen Street.

Investigators determined that the fires were all deliberately set because each started in the passenger compartment rather than the engine, Beaver said.

In the porch fire, "the only way it could have started is if someone set it," he said.

Investigators are waiting for lab results from the State Police to determine whether the arsonist used an accelerant in any of the fires, he said.

No one witnessed the arsonist set the fires, Beaver said, so investigators hope for a "lucky break," such as a newspaper carrier who might have seen something in the early-morning hours.

The fires don't appear to be related to the work of an arsonist Thursday at the Barge Restaurant Bar & Grill on the Kanawha River, but "anything's possible," Beaver said.

Common motives for arson include profit - such as insurance money - or revenge, he said. But a "very small population" simply enjoys setting fires.

"There's a lot of factors involved. They like watching the fire. They like watching firemen responding to fires," he said. "It's generally a male, a young male, and it's a thrill type thing, a power type thing. And it's a true sickness."

Anyone with information can call the Charleston Fire Department at 348-8058 or the state arson hot line at (800) 233-FIRE. Callers can remain anonymous.

Reach staff writer Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com or 348-1240.