CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A fire set as a prank Thursday got out of hand and destroyed three vacant buildings.

Lt. Sean Crosier of the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department said a fire was reported on Dry Branch Road in Cabin Creek about 11:30 p.m. The fire was apparently set by pranksters in the middle of the road, but spread to nearby buildings. Crosier said two office trailers like those used by contractors and a mobile home were destroyed by the blaze.

All three buildings were vacant, he said.

Other than the Dry Branch fire, Crosier said, trick-or-treat night Thursday was fairly sedate. He said deputies received fewer than 15 calls about trick-or-treat pranks.

"For a trick-or-treat night, it's phenomenal," he said.

Sheriff Mike Rutherford stepped up patrols in the county for Thursday night's Halloween festivities, concentrating particularly on the eastern end of Kanawha County, where pranksters historically cut down trees and set fires for Halloween. Crosier said extra patrols would be out again Friday and Saturday.

Although patrols will be heavy in the eastern part of the county, "We still have plenty of units to go to the north, west, even Loudendale and Alum Creek," Crosier said. "We're going to create a feeling of omnipresence."

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A fire set as a prank Thursday got out of hand and destroyed three vacant buildings.

Lt. Sean Crosier of the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department said a fire was reported on Dry Branch Road in Cabin Creek about 11:30 p.m. The fire was apparently set by pranksters in the middle of the road, but spread to nearby buildings. Crosier said two office trailers like those used by contractors and a mobile home were destroyed by the blaze.

All three buildings were vacant, he said.

Other than the Dry Branch fire, Crosier said, trick-or-treat night Thursday was fairly sedate. He said deputies received fewer than 15 calls about trick-or-treat pranks.

"For a trick-or-treat night, it's phenomenal," he said.

Sheriff Mike Rutherford stepped up patrols in the county for Thursday night's Halloween festivities, concentrating particularly on the eastern end of Kanawha County, where pranksters historically cut down trees and set fires for Halloween. Crosier said extra patrols would be out again Friday and Saturday.

Although patrols will be heavy in the eastern part of the county, "We still have plenty of units to go to the north, west, even Loudendale and Alum Creek," Crosier said. "We're going to create a feeling of omnipresence."

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.