The Mayoress of Yei Municipality expressed sorrow after five houses were burnt down at Tarawa area and called for vigilance.
Oba Cicilia Tito said the fires remained unexplained although a seven-year old was arrested in the possession of a lighter, Easter Radio reported.
Ms Oba said the police are investigating the incident and the child and her mother are under custody.
She reiterated that the small child could not set all the five fires in distant houses at the same time.
Ms Oba urged citizens to cooperate with the local authorities in order to arrest the criminals.
She urged youths and chiefs to beef up security in their area and arrest criminals so that they would face the law.
Five houses were reduced to ashes in the past two weeks in Yei and owners lost all their belongings.