Criminal

Black and white sketch of a slightly open box of matches, with “Whispering Pines Hotel” on the lid, and two pine trees standing next to each other.

On Fire

Episode #166

2021-06-04 12:16:45

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On November 12th, 2012, the Accomack County volunteer fire departments got a call. An abandoned house had suddenly gone up in flames. And then, just hours later, a second fire was reported. Then a third. Over the next few months, there would be a lot more fires—nearly 90 in all. It was all anyone could talk about in Accomack. Someone was burning down the entire county.

Monica Hesse’s book is American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land.