Apartment Residents Live In Fear After Series Of Arsons

DESOTO (CBSDFW.COM) - Investigators are trying to determine who is responsible for a series of arsons in a DeSoto apartment community.

The South Point apartments in the 1000 block of Pecan Crossing Drive has had five fires in the last month. Two of them occurred 24 hours apart.

Shirlene Watkins said she is having trouble sleeping at night because of the uncertainty of when the next fire will take place.

Watkins said she has lived at South Point for five years and has never felt unsafe until now.

"It's very scary," she said.

Watkins said she was lucky Sunday morning's fire only caused water and smoke damage to her apartment, even though it was frustrating that she has to move to another apartment.

She is also worried the arsonist will strike again and she won't be as lucky.

Brittney Robertson shares Watkins concern but said she is moving out.

She said she is worried her 9-year-old dog Diamond will be home alone when the next fire happens.

"I am getting a little nervous because I got a dog I want to keep safe," Robertson said.

DeSoto Fire Marshal Michael Laws said police are stepping up patrols in the area until they make an arrest.