Auburn Police say they are working with investigators from the Valley Regional Fire Authority and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) to solve a string of arsons that have plagued the city this fall.

In mid to late September, Auburn suffered several non-structural fires that had been intentionally set along the Interurban Trail or involving Dumpsters and flags.

Although police arrested a suspect for two of those fires, several residential structures were set between October and November when the man was in custody, Auburn Police Chief Bob Lee said Monday night. Those 11 structures were set in clusters on essentially three different days, the last five of them between Thursday, Nov. 5 and Sunday night, Nov. 8.

The suspect called the Auburn Reporter in early October just after being interviewed by police, and, in an agitated state, denied any involvement in those fires. He said police believed him to be the prime suspect because he had set at least one Dumpster fire before the recent string of arsons began. He also asked for legal advice, which the Auburn Reporter was not equipped to offer him.

According to Auburn Police Cmdr. Steve Stocker, with the exception of two in the south, all of the affected structures are clustered on the north end of the city. Most of the structure fires were set between 6 and 11 p.m., and they appear to be random.

Nobody has been hurt to date, but in some cases structures have sustained significant damage. Police say residents should take normal security precautions using lighting and security cameras. All suspicious activity should be reported to 911.