Firefighters from across the county rushed to Coatesville late last night to assist Coatesville firefighters battle a blaze that threatened to destroy the entire 300 block of Fleetwood Street, the 14th arosn-related fire since the start of the New Year.

A giant fireball could be seen from across Coatesville shortly before midnight as firefighters endured tempeatures in the teens to bring the blaze under control. According to sketchy reports from the scene, 15 homes may have been destroyed in the blaze that left scores of city residents homeless. A temporary shelter was set up at Gordon Education Center.

The Fleetwood Street fire comes only three days after two arsons took place around midnight Thursday in the 100 block of Hope Avenue and the 1100 block of Olive Street. And Saturday, Jan 17, three separate fires occurred within an hour. A Coatesville firefighter, Jason Overholt, was injured at one of those fires when a porch roof fell on him.

At a press conference on Thursday City Manager Harry Walker told Channel 6 news that police had no idea who was setting the fires. "We're under attack by someone who's demented. We don't really know who has participated it. We know that we have had a number of arrests for both Coatesville and surrounding areas, and we thought we were done," he said.

Last month police arrested three individual on arson-related charges. George Donkewicz was charged with the arson-related death of Irene Kempest, an 83-year-old Polish immigrant who survived Hitler's forced labor camps. Leroy McWilliams, 23, of Coatesville, was arrested on charges related to an arson in the 100 block of Franklin Street, and a juvenile firefighter with the Coatesville Fire Department was charged with setting a garage fire at Palmer Avenue an South Fifth Avenue.

At Thursday's press conference held at City Hall the Citizens Crime Commission offered a $5,000 reward for information leading up to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the fires. Crimestoppers is offering an undisclosed cash reward in connection to the arson spree. And, Citadel Federal Credit Union in Caln Township has contributed $1,000 to a reward fund it set up for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for the arsons.

"Many members of our credit union have been affected by both the physical destruction of these meaningless fires as well as the continuing fear that they have caused," said Jeff March, president and CEO. "Firefighters are exhausted, neighborhoods are constantly on watch and there is mounting frustration that is hitting us all."

Meanwhile, city council has yet to set its own reward for the multiple arsons. At its Jan. 12 meeting, council squabbled over how much of a reward should be offered and how it should be distributed. Council had early approved a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for setting the fire on at the Strode Avenue home of Kempest. City Solicitor Andrew Lehr said because that reward was specific to that fatal fire a separate reward fund should be established for the other arsons.

Council members questioned where the $5,000 reward should be given to one person for each arson or divided among all those who provided information. City Police Chief William Matthews said he would consult with investigators and get back to council.

At the same meeting John Pawlowski, of Madison Street, presented council with a $1,500 for a reward fund. Council President Marty Eggleston accepted the money, but council seemed unsure of what to do with with the money.