Cars Gutted, Home Damaged in Overnight Fires

Police are investigating fires set off on a street in Englewood, N.J.

Englewood Police are investigating a series of fires that damaged a house and destroyed four cars on West Palisade Avenue early Sunday.

The firestorm began at about 3 a.m., when residents woke up to what sounded like an explosion.

"I head a bang, but it went like behind the house," said Rosanna Sole. "And all of a sudden my neighbor called, the phone rang, and there was fires all over the place."

Manuel Castillo, whose home was damaged in the blaze, said he first thought a bad wire may have been the cause. But then he saw the other destruction along the street.

"There's been many cars... somebody set off the fire," he said.

"People are crazy," said car owner Kenneth Walton. "You don't know what to think."

Three of the four cars that were gutted by the flames belonged to Walton, but he believes the attacks were random.

"I don't have any enemies like that," he said. "It could have been worse, it could have been a house, you know?"

Police say it's still unclear what was used to ignite the flames, and a motive was not apparent.

Residents said there's never been a reason to fear for their safety, and were on edge Sunday as police investigated.

"You wonder if it's a lunatic or if it's going to happen again," said Sole.

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