United States (Massachusetts) - A string of apparent arson fires set within an hour of each other early Sunday morning on the outskirts of downtown has left a father and son dead and investigators scurrying to determine who has been terrorizing these neighborhoods. Fourteen fire departments extinguished at least eight fires and possibly as many as 11 fires which started around 2 a.m. There were at least four structure fires and four car fires set between 2 and 3:15 a.m.

The fatal house fire occurred on Fair Street in a two-family house. Neighbors said the two women who lived upstairs managed to flee out a back fire escape, but the 81-year-old man and his son who lived downstairs were unable to get out.

Authorities did not release the names of the two men who died pending autopsies but neighbors identified them as Paul W. Yeskie Sr., 81, and his son Paul Yeskie Jr., 39, who lived on the first floor of 17 Fair St. Two women living upstairs, including Elaine Yeskie, the elder Yeskie's estranged wife, managed to flee the rapidly moving blaze down a back fire escape.

"It didn't take long for the house to explode," said Peter Curtis, who lives next door to the house where the fatal fire occurred.

Curtis said he got up shortly after 2 a.m. to go to the bathroom when he noticed everything seemed bright outside for the middle of the night. He looked out the window and saw the fire on the screened front porch next door.

"I called the fire department and told them there were people inside there," Curtis said.

But the fire spread so quickly that firefighters were unable to enter the home when they arrived.

The first fire was called in for a home on Union Street but before long there were fires also reported on Fair Street, Highland Avenue, Northern Avenue and Williams Street, police said.

A task force consisting of officials from the State Fire Marshal's Office, the State Police Arson Squad, Northampton Police, Northampton Fire Department and the Hampshire County District Attorney's Office are investigating the series of fires.

Fire departments from as far away as Williamsburg were called in to help put out the fires. All of the fires occurred in about a half-mile radius in a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of town.

Neighbors on Fair Street said that someone has been setting fires for at least a year in the area known as Ward 3 located between the city's vibrant downtown area and its small airport. Northampton is about a half hour from the Connecticut border and is known as a college town as well as a haven for music venues.

Neighborhood groups have met with police and fire officials several times to discuss the problem. Most of the fires have been nuisance fires such as leaves being set on fire or aborted car fires.

The fact that four houses were set on fire this time makes it "more scary than ever" Curtis said.

"This sure will make me think twice before I go to sleep tonight, if I can sleep at all," Curtis said.

Written and photos by The Hartford Courant