Who is popular today?

Police are asking the public to be on alert after a string of suspicious fires in Victoria and Esquimalt that began in early March, with an additional six over the Easter weekend.

At least nine other suspicious fires have flared up in the two municipalities since March 5, ranging from garbage cans to dumpster bins and piles of branches and cardboard set ablaze on a sidewalk.

A fire broke out Monday morning in a backyard shed on Parry Street in James Bay, and heat from the blaze ignited a studio suite in a neighbouring yard on Michigan Street. Nobody was hurt and the damage was estimated at $50,000.

Victoria police say the cause of the fire is suspicious and an investigation is underway.

At 10:30 that night, patrol officers were called to a large area of burned grass in the 500-block of Toronto Street. Then at 10:45, patrol officers were called to a tent on fire in the 500-block of Ellice Street. Multiple tents sustained fire damage, but there were no injuries.

Police responded to three other suspicious fires on Sunday, including a dumpster fire in the 3000-block of Blanshard Street at 9:45 a.m., another dumpster fire in the 2800-block of Irma Street at 11 a.m., and a cedar hedge on fire in the 900-block of Topaz Avenue at 10:15 p.m. An officer used a fire extinguisher to stop the fire from spreading. Victoria firefighters extinguished the remaining fire.

Police said there is nothing to connect Monday’s fires to the other blazes, but they are asking people to report any fires and suspicious activity. They also advised citizens to take precautions:

• Lock down trash cans and dumpsters.

• Do not leave combustible materials such as branches, scrap wood, cardboard or newspapers near homes, businesses or other structures.

• Keep lights on after dark.

Police ask anyone with information about any fire to call them at 250-995-7654 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

rwatts@timescolonist.com