It was a little after 8 p.m. Monday.

More than two hours had passed since the last fire call, about a blaze at a home on the 14000 block of Hazelridge on Detroit's east side. The fire was under investigation, but didn't appear to be suspicious.

Deputy Detroit Fire Commissioner Dave Fornell was feeling hopeful.

"It's very slow," he said. "We’re not there yet, but we may go on record as being one of the slowest Angel's Night (periods) in years and years."

Volunteers fanned out across Detroit and extra fire crews were on hand Monday as part of an annual city-wide effort to deter arson and malicious mischief before Halloween.

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Angels' Night includes the two days before Halloween and the holiday itself.

Fornell said from 6 p.m. to midnight Sunday, three fires were reported. One of those was in Hamtramck, he said. Another fire broke out between midnight and 6 a.m. Monday.

On the same date last year, between 25 and 30 fires broke out, Fornell said.

The fire department put four extra engine companies and one extra ladder company in service for Angels' Night this year.

More than 520 volunteer vehicles, most topped with flashing lights, were patrolling city streets Monday night, said Victoria Kovari, general manager of Detroit's Department of Neighborhoods and the city's chief service officer.

About 5,800 people signed up online to volunteer for Angels' Night.

"That includes everything from watching your block to patrolling to volunteering at the registration table," Kovari said.

"There's some volunteers on foot. In District 4 on the east side, there's a group of cyclists that are patrolling."

Angels' Night began in the mid-1990s in response to the arson fires that scorched the city in the previous several years during what was then called Devils' Night. In 1984, more than 800 fires were reported.

Officials have credited police and fire patrols and the efforts of thousands volunteers with helping decrease arson activity around the holiday.

"Every year, it keeps going down and down," Fornell said.

Fornell said he was hopeful that this year could set a record low for the number of fires during the Angels' Night period.

Kovari said in recent years, Angels' Night has turned into more of a festive, community-building event. Neighbors come together not only to patrol but also for special dinners and other Halloween activities.

More than two dozen police precincts, fire stations and rec centers on Tuesday will be hosting special Halloween activities for the public. See the complete list at www.angelsnight.org.

"We’re really trying to take back Halloween in the city of Detroit by encouraging community-building events and activities for children," Kovari said.

Contact staff writer Ann Zaniewski at 313-222-6594 or azaniewski@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AnnZaniewski.