Hunt for arsonist intensifies in Bay Area city

The hunt for an arsonist intensifies as two more suspicious fires strike a downtown San Jose neighborhood that has seen a string of fires this week.

Fire Department Capt. Rob Brown said Sunday 11 of 13 fires that broke out in the area were intentionally set. They include two that struck early Sunday.

Reports indicate one fire was extinguished by residents before firefighters arrived, and a second one further charred a storage trailer that was burned in a Wednesday blaze behind a Baptist church.

Brown said the arsonist appeared to be growing bolder by apparently returning to the scene of the crime.

Authorities have released a sketch of the suspect and offered up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.