Fifth suspicious fire reported near Northampton’s bike trail 

NORTHAMPTON – Police are investigating another suspicious fire in the area of the bike path, making it the fifth suspicious fire along the trail in about a month. 

Police Chief Jody Kasper reported on the police department’s Facebook page that officers responded to the latest fire in the vicinity of 37 Hatfield Street on Friday at 6:42 p.m.

The unattended fire was extinguished by people with water bottles prior to the arrival of the police, according to Kasper. 

There were four suspicious fires around the bike path in June this year. The first fire occurred shortly after midnight on June 3 under the Jackson Street Bridge, and a second fire was reported the same morning at around 4:45 a.m. behind 265 Prospect St. 

On June 19, police responded to a fire that heavily damaged a bike at the docking station at State and Stoddard streets. On June 27, another bike was found aflame at that same docking station, as was a nearby tree.

The police chief is encouraging anyone with information on the fires to contact the detective bureau at 587-1100.

Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.