Arson is suspected in three house fires in Port Charlotte early Tuesday morning. Two of the homes on Esplanade Street were under construction, the other at Lorette Avenue and Atwater Street was abandoned. That adds to the list of now more than 20 fires deemed suspicious this month alone. According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, they’re all being investigated as arson because of evidence and a smell of gas at each location. Police believe these house fires may be linked to 13 different brush fires that were set in the area on Sunday. A multi-agency investigation with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and the State Fire Marshal is ongoing.
