Police say five youths are believed to be responsible for numerous garbage bin fires in a Regina neighbourhood over an eight-month span.

Between January and August, police received reports of 26 garbage fires in the city’s Al Ritchie neighbourhood. Most of the fires happened in the early morning hours while schools were on summer break, Regina police said in a news release Tuesday.

Police say it’s fortunate that there were no injuries from the garbage bin fires spreading to nearby structures.

During the course of the investigation, police determined the suspects in many of the fires were five girls, aged 12 and under.

One of the girls, who is 12, is facing nine charges of arson, while a second 12-year-old girl faces eight similar counts. A third girl, also 12, is charged with two counts of arson. All three were released on an undertaking to appear in youth court.

Two younger children could not be charged because they’re under 12. All five youths have been referred to appropriate educational resources in the community.

The children cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.