Espanola’s fire chief is trying to squelch talk that an arsonist is behind the rash of house fires in the community. Firefighters have coped with five structure fires since June and Chief Mike Pichor admits that’s an unusual number over a short time frame. However Pichor wants to assure homeowners that arson is not behind the fires. Pichor says the blazes were the result of various causes like electrical and vandalism.