PROCTOR BOTTOM — The state fire marshal and an investigator from the Division of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was in Proctor Bottom Monday investigating a rash of house fires.

Buffalo Creek Fire Department Chief Ray Bryant said there have been five fires in the last month and all are believed to have been deliberately set.

“We’ve had three in Proctor Bottom within 100 feet of each other,” Bryant said.

“The fire marshal and the ATF were in Monday investigating. We believe the fires are arson. Someone even burned the Wesley House senior citizens’ center. One of the two houses in Proctor Bottom had no electricity and the other house the lady who lived there had moved out a month earlier. We believe someone is setting the fires.”

Bryant said anyone with information on the causes of the fires can call the Buffalo Creek Fire Department at 304-583-2306, the West Virginia State Police at 304-792-7200 or the Logan County Sheriff’s Department at 304-792-8590.

“We can’t tolerate more fires,” Bryant said. “Whoever is setting the fires is taking a chance on killing a firefighter.”

So far, there has only been one injury caused by the fires and that was a firefighter who was injured battling one of the blazes, Bryant said.

“This is also costing taxpayers’ money,” Bryant added. “It’s dangerous and it costs all of us.”