COATESVILLE, Pa. (AP) - The state is providing $500,000 to help a suburban Philadelphia town battle a plague of arsons, 18 of which have occurred since the start of the year.

Gov. Ed Rendell says Coatesville is "under siege'' by whoever is responsible for the fires. He says the city's budget cannot cope with the crisis.

Meanwhile, authorities say a 9:35 p.m. Tuesday fire that damaged the back of a Coatesville home was arson.

City officials declared a state of emergency last month after a blaze struck 15 row houses, displacing dozens of people.