Rantoul authorities looking for tips on four fires in one neighborhood

RANTOUL, Ill. (WCIA) — The Rantoul Fire and Police Departments are investigating a series of suspicious fires that happened last week, and they’re asking for help through Crime Stoppers in solving the case.

Officials said that on Aug. 21, four separate fires happened in the same neighborhood that were deemed suspicious, all around 8:30 p.m. The first reported fire happened at Roselyn and Bell Aire Drives; two or three juveniles are said to have poured gasoline in the street and lit it on fire.

As officers were responding to this report, officials said another report was received indicating juveniles had lit a car on fire a block away at Bel Aire and Juniper Drives. Officers were also flagged down at Bel Aire and Bel Place for a report of car tires set on fire. Another fire at Juniper and Briarcliff Drive involved a yard on fire.

All of this happened a short distance away from Mahoning Drive, where Rantoul authorities are investigating a string of suspicious trailer fires .

Rantoul Police are asking that people with homes in the area check footage from outside security cameras, if they have any, and look for suspicious activity or people. If such footage is found, or if people have other information to provide, they are asked to submit a tip to Champaign County Crime Stoppers.

Tips can be submitted by calling 217-373-8477, visiting Crime Stoppers’ website or using the P3 Tips mobile app. Any tip submitted through these methods is stripped of identifying information, ensuring 100% anonymity, and can be rewarded with cash if the tip leads to an arrest.

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