SHARN–Five alchemist shops in the Cassan Bridge district have burned to the foundation in the last three weeks, and with high winds expected this week, district residents are worried that further blazes might spread.

Four of the five shops were owned by recent immigrants from the Shadow Marches, raising the specter of the anti-immigrant violence that flared up two years ago. But the fifth shop, Elixirs of Causewary, has been doing business on Wary Street for almost a century.

Because alchemists use open flame and caustic reagents in their mixtures, uncontrolled fires are not uncommon. Investigations into the specific origins of each fire are underway by the Sharn Watch, but no conclusions are available yet.

But the frequency of the fires leaves little doubt in the minds of Cassan Bridge residents that arson is to blame.

“I’ve had bucket brigades outside my window twice in the past two weeks,” district resident Unnao Thruan said. “You can’t tell me it’s just a coincidence.”