Detroit reports 93 Halloween fires

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DETROIT, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Only 93 fires were reported in Detroit on Halloween and the days leading up to it, the fewest in 17 years, officials said.

Mayor Dave Bing, appearing with other officials at a Thursday news conference, thanked volunteers who patrolled the city during what is now known as the Angel's Night period, The Detroit News reported.

"Last year there were 94 fires and we were pretty happy about that, because it was the lowest number we'd had in many years," Bing said. "This is tremendous."

Angel's Night is a rebranding of what was once known as Devil's Night. Traditionally on the night before Halloween children and teenagers would engage in petty vandalism like throwing eggs.

In the 1970s, Devil's Night exploded in Detroit to a three-night arson orgy. In the 1980s, there were as many as 800 fires set every year.

In 1995, Mayor Dennis Archer ordered a curfew and called for volunteers to patrol the streets. He also changed the name.

Fire Commissioner Donald Austin said 39 of this year's fires were in occupied dwellings, 20 in vacant houses, 12 in cars, 18 in trash and four in garages. He said about two-thirds of the fires in buildings are under investigation as possible arson.