More than a dozen palm trees have been set afire since January on Galveston Island in a string of arson cases.
Galveston Fire Chief Michael Wisko tells the Galveston County Daily News their "biggest fear" is that someone is going to get hurt.
He says a fire from a burning palm tree ended up burning part of a vacant residence in April. That's been the only reported structure damage.
Officials say 13 trees have been scorched using flammable liquid, possibly gasoline, in a sporadic pattern across the island.
Wisko says they have no suspects. Wisko says arson is a difficult crime to charge unless someone is caught in the act. He says the fires typically occur overnight.
In 2009, serial arsonists torched dozens of palm trees.
Copyright The Associated Press
