DETROIT, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Detroit's annual Halloween arson siege saw a 42 percent jump in fires this year, city officials said.
Despite the 169 fires reported during the three-day Angels' Night weekend, Mayor David Bing hailed volunteers' anti-arson efforts as a success.
Officials reported 46 fires Friday night, 58 Saturday and 65 Sunday. Last year, 119 fires were reported during the three days while there were 136 in 2008. The city averages about 40 fires nightly throughout the year.
Fire officials told the Detroit Free Press there were so many calls early Sunday that firefighters were forbidden to take their breaks. No major injuries were reported.
One factor in the increase was more fires in vacant structures, Fire Commissioner James Mack told the Free Press.
Police reported 126 young people arrested for curfew violations.
The number of volunteers dropped this year to about 28,000 from 30,000 last year and 60,000 in 2007.
Police Chief Ralph Godbee told the Detroit News weekend volunteer numbers may be down because city residents are increasing efforts to volunteer more regularly.
The fire numbers are still far from the peak of more than 800 in 1984.
