Chief Collins Suspects Pyromaniac May Have Set Five Fires in Square

A pyromaniac may be loose in the Harvard Square area, Fire Chief John F. Collins revealed last night.

Collins did not know who he was, where he was, or indeed, if he existed, but a series of mysterious blazes have put the Cambridge fire and police departments on a 24-hour alert.

The current series started just over three weeks ago and was brought to the attention of state officials after Monday night's Buckingham Street fire. In that short period the Cambridge Fire Department has fought five similar blazes.

Chief Collins last night issued the following warning: "Janitors in apartment blocks throughout the city should be on the alert to prevent the entrance of strangers into their buildings. Otherwise, we run the risk of a tragedy that might take many lives."

Four of the fires--on Prescott Street, Bowdoin Street, Magazine Street, and the one on Monday--all began the same way, in rubbish bins in unattended cellars.