BY TOM O'NEILL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEW RICHMOND -- Within nine minutes, four separate fires were reported here in the early-morning hours of Sept. 23, all within close proximity. New Richmond officials said Wednesday they believe the fires were all set by the same person.
The arrest of Craig Lee Kincade, 20, of the 300 block of Augusta Street, New Richmond, on three counts of arson follows a string of 14 fires dating back to last October.No damage estimate was available. Mr. Kincade was arraigned Wednesday in Clermont County Court and remained in the county jail. He faces three fourth-degree felony charges that each carry a maximum 6- to 18-month jail sentence. Police said at a Wednesday press conference they do not believe Mr. Kincade was involved in all 14 fires, but they think he set those four Sept. 23 and one an hour earlier. He has been charged in three, but police said more charges are possible.
And they say they are keenly aware of the effect the string of fires had in the community.
"I think people could sleep a little easier," said New Richmond Police Chief Landon Williams said. "We've had some threats (to Mr. Kincade and his family) from some people who are up in arms over this."
No one was injured in the five Sept. 23 fires, four of which were reported between 2:15 a.m. and 2:24 a.m. None was set at occupied structures. The most serious, New Richmond police lead investigator Floyd Henderson said, probably was to a car parked on Sophia Street. The car, an early-'80s Buick, was about 6 feet from an elderly couple's attached garage in which highly flammable liquids, including paint thinner, were stored.
A previous car fire in the string, at the intersection of Union and Washington streets, resulted in the indictments of three other men on insurance-fraud-related charges. Two juveniles were charged in another arson fire earlier this year.
Several of the fires were to trash bins. Another fire, to a shed attached to the First Baptist Church on Western Avenue, prompted the FBI to become involved because it was a church fire. The damage, according to Pastor John Lewis, was about $1,500.
Police said there was no indication the fire was racially motivated. "(Church members) are relieved someone has been arrested," said Pastor Lewis, who added he has served there only six months and didn't know whether Mr. Kincade ever was a member. "We're just thankful to those for the quick response, the police, the fire department."
