ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Six apartments in Rocky Mount have been damaged by fire in the last three weeks, and authorities believe an arsonist is to blame.

"It's a little scary, because just about four months ago, I was living in one across the street, one of those that caught fire," resident Elizabeth Bryant said.

Bryant and other neighbors said they are tired of waking up to the sounds of fire engines in their neighborhood. Authorites are concerned that the fires may spread to the newer apartments in the area.

"You don't know whether it is going to be your house or not," Bryant said.

"They might start in on the apartments we live in next, you never know. Before that happens, I hope they catch whoever it is," resident Evangeline Allen said.

City officials said some of the apartments damaged by fire had been flooded in the wake of Hurricane Floyd. The Rocky Mount Housing Authority is in the process of tearing them down to rebuild them.

Officers have started patrolling the area in an effort to catch the person responsible. If you have any information about the fires, you are asked to contact the Rocky Mount Police Department.