Fires set in Morgantown hit 14-year low

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – The city of Morgantown last year saw its lowest number of malicious fires since 2001.
City Manager Jeff Mikorski says 67 fires were set in trash bins and in the street in 2015, down from 122 such fires in 2014.
Morgantown adopted ordinances last year banning upholstered furniture from being placed on porches and other outdoor areas. Fire marshals also were granted arrest authority at fire scenes.
Mikorski says West Virginia University also has taken steps to change student behavior and encourage responsibility.
WVU students have a long history of fires and mayhem after big athletic events. A few years ago police began using Facebook, Twitter and other social media to identify suspects.