NATCHEZ — A series of car fires believed to have been set intentionally have Fire Marshal Aaron Wesley knocking on doors in hopes of getting answers, he said.

Torching a person’s car has become a retaliation trend over the past two and a half months, Wesley said.

“It’s out of control and out of hand,” he said. “Somebody does something to somebody else, sometimes it’s drug related, but (arson) is the trend.”

A vehicle was set on fire Sunday at Covington Apartments, and another burned Friday on Daisy Street.

Another vehicle was set on fire at Cedarhurst Apartments July 6, and a truck was set on fire on West Stiers Lane June 8.

The most recent incident on Daisy Street involved a blue Ford Expedition, according to a Natchez Police Department report.

A line along the front fender and quarter panel showed an area “that appeared to have been an accelerant used to start the fire,” the report states.

Wesley said the fire at Covington Apartments was “unique.”

“I don’t want to say how (the fires) are being started, because I don’t want to tell someone else how to start one,” he said. “(This person) had some experience starting fires. (They knew) were to burn them to actually destroy them.”

Natchez has been getting more car fires than 20 to 30 other county representatives that Wesley talked to at a recent conference, he said.

The fires in Natchez aren’t happening anywhere in particular, he said.

Police Chief Mike Mullins said the fires are under investigation, but cash is available through Crime Stoppers if anyone comes forth with information.

Information can be reported by calling 601-442-5000.

“There needs to be more neighborhood watches,” Wesley said. “Listen to dogs barking, look for any type of people who are in the neighborhood that you don’t recognize.”