AKRON, Ohio -- Investigators in Akron are trying to figure out who's responsible for setting a series of leaf fires in the city.

Firefighters were called to North Pershing Avenue and Stabler early Wednesday morning where for a second time in less than a week, people woke up to their lawns on fire.

Piles of leaves were on fire all over the community and the small fires spread to nearby bushes and grass.

The Fire Department was able to contain the fires quickly, sparing nearby homes.

The fires mark the second time in a week that leaves became fuel for flames, and some residents think they know who started them.

"They're probably kids that don't think about the consequences of what they're doing, and it's frightening," said resident Gary Ratchford.

Neighbors said the fires symbolize a bigger issue.

"If we didn't have these budget cuts in Akron, the leaf piles wouldn't be sitting out here this long," said Ratchford.

The city used to offer free leaf pickup twice during the fall, but to save money the pickup was reduced to just once, meaning many of the piles have been sitting out for a week, rotting and leaving a stench behind.

In Ward 8, neighbors won't see their leaves removed until the week of Thanksgiving and some Akron communities won't get their leaved removed until Dec. 10.

In response, Mayor Don Plusquellic said, "Having two leaf pickups has nothing to do whatsoever, in my opinion, with a kid setting a pile of leaves on fire. None whatsoever. I can't see a nexus there. It just doesn't make sense."

Akron police are hoping anyone with information about the fires will contact them.