Arson suspected in 5 fires, one in a sweat lodge, set in small area of Mpls.

Arson is suspected in the setting of five fires in recent weeks in a small area of south Minneapolis, ranging from vehicles to garages to an American Indian sweat lodge.

The fires, all set under the cover of darkness, occurred in a 4- by 6-block area that is bisected east to west by Franklin Avenue, authorities said Wednesday.

The first suspicious blaze occurred about 4:15 a.m. on Oct. 30 in a sweat lodge in the 1600 block of E. 19th Street, according to Minneapolis arson squad Sgt. Sean McKenna.

The others were:

• Unlocked vehicle, 1900 block of Elliot Avenue, 4:23 a.m. Nov. 4.

• Garage, 1900 block of Elliot, 9:05 p.m. Nov. 9.

• Garage, 2100 block of 13th Avenue, 10:45 p.m. Nov. 9

Suspect information released by fire officials was vague.

Anyone with information about any of these fires is asked to contact McKenna at 612-673-3389 or call the Arson Hot Line at 1-800-723-2020.