DETROIT, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Detroit Mayor David Bing said he is happy with the number of volunteers who showed up for the first day of the city's Angels' Night.
The three-day event, designed to prevent criminal acts associated with Devil's Night, got off to a cold start, the Detroit News reported.
Police and fire authorities said the frigid, windy weather seemed to aid in thwarting arson activity.
Angels' Night volunteers fanned out across the city Tuesday night hoping their watchful eyes would help curtail any would-be arsonists.
They were joined by Mayor Bing, the Detroit Free Press reported.
City officials said they would release information Thursday on the number of building fires.
"I am hopeful that our three-day results will show that the number of fires continue to trend downward as they did last year," Bing said.
Angels' Night began in 1995 following decades of Devil's Night vandalism and arson that took place in the days leading up to Halloween.
Since then the number of arsons has dropped, and Angels' Night has been recognized nationally as one of the country's largest civic volunteer efforts.
