After weeks of public outcry, Coatesville Police Chief William Matthews today lowered the curfew for all those under 18 of age to 8 p.m. from 10 p.m. in response to a series of arsons that have left city residents terrorized.

Effective immediately all persons under the age of 18 must be off the streets by 8 p.m. For tonight and through Saturday night only citations will not be issued to juveniles between the hours of 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. who comply with police orders or have an excused reason to be on public streets, according to a city press release.

At the Jan. 26 council meeting residents called upon council to lower the curfew. And, two days later at a town meeting, residents again demanded a curfew. City Manager Harry Walker said then that the city administration had been in contact with state and federal law enforcement officials investigating the arson and they told him a curfew was not wanted. "The day they ask for a curfew, they will get one," Walker said at the town meeting.

On Tuesday, South Coatesville called for a state of emergency and immediately lowered the curfew for those under 18 years of age from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m. "We wanted to be proactive instead of reactive," said borough council President Gregory Hines. There have been no arson-related fires in South Coatesville.

Coatesville also announced that city police will soon begin issuing citations for resident/occupants who have not complied with the emergency order to remove flammable and combustible objects and items from their front and rear porches. Residents may face fines up to $600.

Additionally, rental property owners may be cited by the city codes department.