Bing optimistic about Angels' Night

George Hunter and Charles E. Ramirez / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Mayor Dave Bing said he's cautiously optimistic about Angels' Night.

"We're not hearing a lot of sirens, so that's good," he said.

However, the mayor said tonight's mild weather could mean more troublemakers may turn out tonight.

"It's early, so we're not going to get our hopes up too high," Bing said. "But, we'll be out here until late tonight."

Bing made the remarks as thousands of volunteers set off on patrols to watch the city's streets Friday night for fire bugs set on mischief.

More than 30,000 volunteers are part of this year's Angels' Nights patrols, which started Thursday and will continue tonight and Saturday.

Many of the city's employees have joined the volunteers on patrol, Bing said.

Among the volunteers on patrol Friday night is Kelley Marks.

She isn't alone, either. She's joined by a group of men, women, children, Labradors and German shepherds.

"We've got our own K-9 unit," said Marks, president of the Morningside east side community group, laughing. "Last night we had 30 people out; that's not counting the hundreds of volunteers Neighborhood City Hall has."

Jay Pelc of Clinton Township is also on patrol.

"I love this town," said Pelc, 28. "It feels fantastic to help out. Hopefully, we can keep people out of harm's way."

Detroit Fire Commissioner James Mack said there have been some fires around the city Friday, "but it's too early to tell if it's a good night or a bad night."

Detroit has wrestled with arsons on Halloween eve since the '70s. In the mid-'80s, hundreds of them were set in city neighborhoods.

And stepped up efforts by firefighters, police and volunteers have cut down on fire dramatically -- there were 136 fires last Halloween weekend, down from an all-time high of 810 in 1984 -- but problems persist. Eleven fires were set within hours Oct. 11 in the Morningside area on Detroit's east side. Fire officials say at least seven were intentionally set. The other four are still under investigation.

Officials and residents are concerned there will be more, given the 40,000 foreclosed homes and 80,000 abandoned properties in Detroit, according to the city officials, all of which could be prime targets for arsonists.

Curfew hours are in effect for children under 18 from 6 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday. Another curfew will be in place from 10 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday for kids 15 and younger.

cramirez@detnews.com (586) 468-2905