Statesboro Police arrested a man Friday they said is responsible for a series of intentionally-set fires on the north side of town.
Statesboro Public Safety Director Wendell Turner said arson investigations by the Georgia Fire Marshal’s office resulted in the arrest of Rolf Baars Jr., 58, North Main Street, on several charges of arson.
The Statesboro Police Department and Statesboro Fire Department assisted state fire marshal Dan Meallor in the search for a suspect in six arson-related fires in the area, he said.
The first arson case occurred Feb. 22, when firefighters battled a structure fire on North College Street. A fire was set again in the same structure three days later, Turner said.
Furniture outside a storage unit behind a convenience store on North Main Street was set ablaze April 19.
About a week later, a house that was used for a business office on Preetorious Street was set on fire. That same building was set on fire again July 11, he said.
Firefighters and police investigators suspected Baars in these arson cases, but did not have evidence for an arrest until after a barn fire Thursday on North Main Street, he said.
When the evidence collected was enough to make an arrest, Baars was taken into custody.
In addition to six counts of first degree arson, Baars was also charged with theft by taking and criminal trespass.
The Statesboro fires were not the first time Baars was charged with arson.
“Baars has a previous arrest for arson in 1998 from Southhampton Town, New York,” Turner said. The charge was reduced to criminal mischief through a plea bargain.
Baars remains in the Bulloch County Jail without bond, and further charges are possible.
“Additional suspicious fires that have been confirmed arson are still under investigation and additional charges are anticipated,” he said.
Baars has been spotted on the scene at some of the fires as firefighters responded to the blaze. That is one trait that serial arsonists display, he said.
“It’s almost like a sickness. They feel some kind of need or desire by setting a fire and watching it burn, watching the response. They get a mental pleasure from it.”
According to Internet website www.criminallawyerdenton.com, serial arsonists ”set fire to property out of a sick compulsion. They are addicted to the thrill of power that comes with burning down someone else's property.”
Internet website www.angelfire.com lists several types of arsonist. One type, the “excitement motivated arsonist,” is prompted to set fires because he “craves excitement that is satisfied by fire setting. Matches and cigarettes are frequently used to ignite vegetation fires.”
Thursday’s fire began as a brush fire, according to information dispatched by Bulloch County Central 911 as they sent firefighters to the scene.
 “Some excitement-motivated arsonists do not leave once the fire has started. They prefer to mingle with the crowds who have gathered to watch the fire,” according to the website. Baars was seen at a number of the fire locations.
The website describes a “serial arsonist” as being involved in three or more separate fire-setting episodes.
“Serial arsonists often have a history of substance abuse and a history of police contact/arrests for minor nuisance offenses,” the website reads.”The offender walks to the scene of the fire and generally lives within one mile of the crime scene He is very likely familiar with the crime scene and could justify his presence in the area.”
Baars’ North Main residence is within easy walking distance of all the fires, Turner said.
Anyone with information concerning these incidents is asked to contact Det. Keith Holloway with the Statesboro Police Department at (912) 764-9911 or   submit a confidential tip through the tips online software at crimereports.com.


Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.