Reward offered in string of arsons

State Fire Marshal offering $5K reward for information leading to arrest

The latest incident happened around 2 a.m. Sunday, where at least five cars went up in flames. Last Wednesday, police said someone set fire to three vehicles.

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – Residents in one Hilliard apartment complex say they woke up to cars in the parking lot engulfed in flames two different nights in the past week.

Authorities in Nassau County said these fires are part of a series of car arsons at the Eastwood Oaks Apartments in Nassau County.

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IMAGES: At least 8 vehicles burned this week

The latest incident happened around 2 a.m. Sunday, where at least five cars went up in flames. Last Wednesday, police said someone set fire to three vehicles.

Residents there said they don't understand why they are being targeted and they are concerned about their safety.

One woman said she moved to the complex about a year ago and thought it was a nice place.

"Got woke up last night to a nightmare," one victim told Channel 4 on Sunday. "Walked outside, my car is completely engulfed in flames."

Among the vehicles set on fire was a Comcast van driven by William Dishman.

"I grabbed my keys and ran outside to found a car ablaze between my Jeep and my Comcast van," Dishman said. "I jumped in my Jeep and moved it out of the way. By the time I got out of my vehile to get near the van, the Saturn, which was the vehicle that was on fire, the blaze was just six or eight feet and growing by the minute."

The State Fire Marshal is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has also joined the investigation.

Anyone with information about the fires is asked to call the Nassau County Sheriff's Office at 904-225-5174 or the State Fire Marshal at 877-NO-ARSON.