Chicago Police Sgt. Juan Clas, Near West Police Cmdr. Ed Kulbida and Police Sgt. Richard Sliva address arson questions at a community meeting in Pilsen Tuesday night. View Full Caption DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay

PILSEN — The person responsible for seven devastating arsons in Pilsen last month is likely someone with a mental illness who "likes to play with fire," a top police official said Tuesday.

Sharing new details about the mysterious arson case and describing a suspect for the first time, Near West Police Cmdr. Ed Kulbida said investigators believe one suspect acted alone to set seven fires blocks apart in Pilsen and Heart of Chicago.

"This was done by a person who has a mental problem. This is a person who likes to watch fires," Kulbida told Pilsen residents at the Rudy Lozano Library Tuesday night.

The arsonist might have been riding a bicycle, Kulbida revealed, and set garbage cans on fire after attempting to set a couch on fire.

"In terms of who it is, we don't know that right now," Kulbida said. "We can't give out [some] information because that would jeopardize the case that is being built."

Investigators are now working to enhance surveillance video that might show the arson suspect. If verified, that video will be released to the public later, Kulbida said.

Addressing rumors in the neighborhood, Kulbida said investigators do not believe the fires were gang-related or were motivated by greedy developers.

"Absolutely, 100 percent not gang-related," Kulbida said.

Manuel Beltran (third from right) and Laura Beltran (right) stand with their five children in front of their former Heart of Chicago home. The Beltran family lost everything in one of seven devastating arsons in September. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]

'We want answers'

At the meeting hosted by Pilsen Alliance, board member Rosa Esquivel said neighbors worry that they are in danger.

"We want answers," she said. "Someone died. It is very serious."

Manuel Beltran, whose family of seven lost everything in the fire at 2274 S. Blue Island Ave., said they have been staying with his sister since the tragedy. His youngest daughter is struggling to overcome nightmares, he said. The families affected by the fires need help.

"Why has Ald. Solis not talked to me?" Beltran asked.

Francisco Lassio, aide to Ald. Danny Solis (25th), said the alderman would address the seven arsons at a meeting Wednesday night at St. Paul Catholic Church. Solis had a meeting at City Hall Tuesday night, he said.

Beltran did meet with 25th Ward Chief of Staff Vince Sanchez, he said.

In a statement, Solis said that he has been in active communication with Chicago Police and Fire officials and The Resurrection Project leaders in an effort to help displaced families find housing.

"The displaced families have received referrals from a Whittier Elementary counselor to community agencies and partners for housing, food pantries, social work and other related services," Solis said. “There’s more work to be done in helping these families get back on their feet and bring those responsible for their malicious acts to justice."

Corina Pedraza, who worked to help the families affected by the fires, said two buildings in the 2200 block of South Blue Island Avenue, including the home the Beltrans were renting, were demolished a day after the fires. The quick demolition was suspicious, she said.

"For those of us that were born and raised in this city ... that really raises a red flag," she said.

Because of safety hazards, District Fire Chief Dan Cunningham said it isn't out of the ordinary for a fire-damaged building to be razed after investigators release the building.

Alejandro Escuadra, whose garage at 1916 W. 21st Place was destroyed by one of the seven fires, said he believes the affected homes were specifically targeted.

"Somebody's paying somebody to do this," he told the crowd. "I don't have proof, but I believe it's people who want those houses."

Kulbida responded: "A pyromaniac doesn't do it for profit."

"I'm not saying you are wrong... but I tend to believe this [was] done by a person who has a sickness, who likes to watch fires and who likes to set fires," Kulbida said.

Cunningham agreed.

"The fires fit the profile of someone who has an illness," he said.

A garage at 2274 S. Blue Island Ave. was destroyed by one of the seven fires set in Pilsen early Friday. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]

Fire timeline

Around 3 a.m. Sept. 16, nearly 100 firefighters and police responded to calls of separate fires around Pilsen and Heart of Chicago. The seven blazes left one man dead and 25 people displaced in Pilsen.

In these incidents, someone ignited materials in garbage cans or items left in the alley. In some cases, the fire spread to garages or homes, police said.

The Friday arsons were set in a 45-minute period, investigators revealed days after the arsons. Investigators developed the fire timeline — an estimation — by examining 911 calls, witness accounts and early surveillance video.

The man who died after he was found unresponsive inside a garage at 2151 W. 21st St. was later identified as 59-year-old Venancio Veracruz Benitez, according to the medical examiner's office.

Neighbors with surveillance video cameras near the fire sites or individuals who might have a description of suspicious people or vehicles near the sites are asked to call detectives at 312-746-7618.

An eighth suspicious garage fire was reported in the area on Sept. 20.

The September fires came after other recent fires in the neighborhood this summer. On July 20, a fire broke out in a residential building at 2036 W. 21st Place, displacing 18 people. On July 22, a fire at 21st Street and Hoyne Avenue near the Damen Pink Line tracks displaced a musician who was away on tour.

Police do not believe the other fires are connected to the seven arsons at this time.

Second meeting on fires

Democratic state representative candidate Theresa Mah is hosting a second community meeting on the seven Pilsen arsons Wednesday night.

The meeting, from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, will be held at St. Paul Catholic Church, 2127 W. 22nd Place in Heart of Chicago.

Solis, Chicago Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago, members of the Police Department's Bomb and Arson squad, CFD fire investigators, Chicago Department of Buildings leaders, The Resurrection Project leaders and Whittier School representatives are expected to attend the meeting.

Public officials will share information about the arson investigative process and stakeholders will offer resources to help displaced families.

A torched garbage can in the alley behind homes destroyed by the arsons on South Blue Island Avenue. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]

How you can help

• To help the families in their time of need, Allison Manasse, a counselor at Whittier Elementary launched a GoFundMe campaign online. Five of the families displaced by the Friday fires have children who attend Whittier Elementary School in Pilsen.

The campaign aims to raise $60,000 for the affected families and has raised $16,100 to date.

• Another GoFundMe campaign aims to help Venancio Veracruz Benitez's family with his burial. The campaign aims to raise $5,000 and has raised $1,030 to date.

• A third GoFundMe campaign aims to help the Beltran family get back on their feet. The campaign aims to raise $40,000 and has raised $1,300 to date.

Police Cmdr. Kulbida: 7 #Pilsen arsons likely set by someone w/ a "sickness" who likes to set fires, possibly on bicycle. Story up soon. pic.twitter.com/QanKhhNeOx — Stephanie Lulay (@slulay2) October 4, 2016

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