Police are asking for the public's help in solving a string of suspicious fires in Friendship in recent days.

About 2:40 a.m. yesterday, a canvas awning on the front porch of a home in the 5200 block of Friendship Avenue went up in flames. The fire spread to porch furniture.

Almost at the same time, a pile of leaves was ignited in the front yard of a home around the corner in the 300 block of South Pacific.

No one was injured in either blaze, and both were extinguished quickly. But the flames blackened the facade of the Friendship Avenue home.

The home's owners are Steven Annegarn, ballet master for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Erin Halloran, a ballerina with the organization.

On Saturday morning, Michael Dolan discovered the incinerated remains of one of three scarecrows in front of his house in the 200 block of South Aiken Avenue.

A large pumpkin was sitting on top of a neighbor's car.

Mr. Dolan, 49, who lives with his wife and three children, called police and took down the two remaining scarecrows, which were leftover Halloween decorations.

"It was completely melted," he said of the burned scarecrow.

Police have no suspects.

"We're just hoping someone in the neighborhood can come forward and call our office," said Detective Michael Burns of the city arson squad.

Callers can remain anonymous, and any tidbit of information could be useful, the detective said.

He said people living in Friendship should take precautions, such as cleaning garbage or fallen leaves from their yards and keeping a watchful eye for suspicious activity.

"I don't want to cause any alarm," Detective Burns said. "But people need to pay attention."

Anthony Ciriello, who lives on the same block as the Friendship Avenue home, said he is removing a wooden box from his backyard that holds his temporary swimming pool during the winter months.

"I was going to leave it out there, but I'm not going to leave it out there now," he said yesterday as he stood on the porch of his home. "I can't believe people are lighting stuff on fire."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the arson squad at 412-937-3078.

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