While it's too early to say that a series of brush fires next to buildings at 29 Liberty St. in the City of Batavia were deliberately set, said Chief Stefano Napolitano, the fires do deserve closer scrutiny.
City fire and Batavia PD are working together on an investigation.
The property is a long narrow band with a trailer on it -- like a long trailer used at construction sites -- and the fires were several yards apart on the property.
"With fires at multiple locations, it warrants an extremely closer look," Napolitano said.
The investigation will also try to determine if the Liberty Street fires are linked to a dumpster fire at School and Cedar streets earlier today.
Out at the scene this evening, Napolitano was overheard talking with a police officer about the unusual number of brush fires in the area for November. We asked him about it later.
There were fires today in Alabama, Oakfield, Pavilion and Darien.
"I can't speak for other chiefs but in my 35 years (in the fire service), I don't remember a November 20th with this kind of temperature and dry conditions," Napolitano said. "Maybe when I was younger, I didn't notice it, but now I can feel it in my bones."
He said its really not a good time for one last bonfire or to burn things.
He praised the response of his team. The firefighters protected nearby buildings from the fire and got it out quickly.
Previously: Brush fire reported on Liberty Street in the city
Video by Rick Hale.
