Staff Writer

Someone tried for a third time Wednesday to set fire to the former South Church Street Efficiency Apartments.

Union Public Safety officers and volunteer firefighters were called to the vacant building on 403 South Church St. around 8:15 p.m. after a person who lives nearby on Carson Street reported seeing smoke. Officers arriving could see smoke coming from the rear of the structure as well as an eave overhead. The fire was contained to a single apartment, burning an interior and exterior wall, a report filed by Cpl. Scott Farr said.

Someone had started the blaze by setting fire to a blue cotton cloth.

Damage was estimated at $1,000.

The apartments are owned by the City of Union, which plans to demolish them and build subsidized housing, but a contractor wants to salvage parts of the building during the demolition.

Someone set fire to a mattress left behind in an apartment Friday. On Monday, someone set a tire on fire in a utility room. Damage was minimal in both fires.

Chief Sam White said the fires may have been set by the same person who has set several vacant houses on fire in the area in the past few years.

Anyone who thinks they may have information leading to an arrest in the case may call Union County Crime Stoppers at 427-0800 or the public safety department at 429-1713.