Turlock’s fire and police departments are seeking information on the person who set a series of fires around Turlock Wednesday night by igniting Cypress trees.

Between 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. the fire department responded to five different fires involving Cypress trees that had been set ablaze. Some of the fires were in the area of Donnelly Park, while others were in various parts of town.

In some of the fires the trees were located near homes and residences, prompting the firefighters to take quick actions to keep the flames from spreading. At least in one fire, a fence was partially burned from the sparks coming off the flaming tree. Even when being doused with water, the burning trees presented a danger to other structures from embers blowing in the wind.

The fires were determined to be arson and the incidents are being investigated by the Turlock Police Department. It is believed that the same suspect set all the fires.

“The incident is still under investigation and we ask that anyone who may have seen a suspicious person or vehicle in or around the Donnelly Park area during this time, or who may have a video recording of a suspicious vehicle or person in or around the surrounding neighborhood to call TPD,” said Turlock Police spokesman Sgt. Russ Holeman.  “We do not have a further description of the suspect or his vehicle, but we do believe that a vehicle was being driven by the suspect during this time.”

Anyone with information about the fires is asked to call the Turlock Police Department’s Tip Line at 668-5550 extension 6780 or at TPDTipline@turlock.ca.us.