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San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood says the city is seeing 26% more fires so far this fiscal year than last year. Hood spoke Monday at the Ella Austin Community Center on the East Side, where the greatest increase in the number of fires is taking place. Fire crews have responded to 39 fires on the East Side since October. Eight of them were arson fires, and two may be the work of the same culprit. Hood also reported ten fire fatalities this fiscal year, up from seven last year. He asked residents to keep an eye out for suspicious activity.