Posted Monday, November 9, 2009 -- 5:30 p.m.

By NBC15's Dana Brueck

Police believe a series of fires is a prank, but this prank cost one local woman big: one fire destroyed her car.

Almost everywhere you look in Lake Mills, you find leaf piles.

"Every day they're picking up the leaves."

But some city blocks have scars -- the work of pranksters late Friday night.

"We're thinking it was a group. This is what they wanted to do," Chief Kathleen Hansen says.

Whoever it was wanted to burn leaves in multiple locations. Within an hour Friday night, one after another, a total of ten reports of burning leaf piles across the city.

"The firemen were actually in their personal cars trying to get to all of the different places... 'cause they just couldn't keep the fire trucks moving fast enough," Hansen says.

Jean Glasser's son noticed the flames in front of their home.

"We got the hose spraying water on, and my son ran into the house with pails and came out with water and we tried to keep it under control. It was windy so it was blowing besides."

When she took a look around, she noticed other fires - one especially big down the street.

"Police did come, and I pointed down the street to get to the street."

It's easy to spot the damage driving through Lake Mills. You can see the extent ... with the flames apparently reaching several feet in the air.

"I loved my car... Everyone loved my car," Naomi Erb says.

Erb's car was parked down Grove Street.

"There's my phone charger... "

The full-time student, who also works two jobs, is trying to salvage anything. By the time, she realized her 4-year-old Pontiac was burning up, it was too late.

"Somebody maybe has seen these people... maybe... hopefully."

Police say luckily no one was hurt.

Police have tracked down a group of juveniles suspected of egging vehicles the same night. But they do not believe they're connected to this rash of fires. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers.

Crime Stoppers
920-563-7793
1-800-559-3200