Vacant House Fire Spreads To Another Home In Monessen
MONESSEN (KDKA) -- A fire that started in a vacant house spread to another home Wednesday morning in Westmoreland County.
Crews were called to the scene around 6 a.m. in the 1200-block of McMahon Drive.
Monessen Fire Chief Chris Rhome said early on the fire appeared suspicious and later confirmed it was ruled a case of arson.
Neighbors thought the house where the fire started was under some type of renovation.
"We're getting conflicting reports on that," said Chief Rhome. "There were people in the house yesterday as we've been advised through the Monessen Police Department."
"Well, there's no one living there. They've been working on the house for the past week or so, getting it ready. I think he was trying to sell it," said neighbor Randy Margarcelli.
While the house where the fire broke out was vacant, it ended up spreading to the occupied house next door. The mother, father, three children and their dog were all able to escape safely.
"My alarm went off at 6 to go to work, but at the same time, I heard them screaming in the street," said Margarcelli. "Then, I looked out the window further and saw flames."
The fire chief says he knows the family well, making this a difficult fire.
"When the call came in, I heard the address; I knew whose house it was. That's one of the highs and lows of being a close-knit community here," said Chief Rhome.
The chief says crews tried to put out the flames quickly, trying to keep damages to a minimum, but it spread quickly through the attic.
Neighbors took the family that escaped in, and fire crews eventually started removing anything their home that could salvage.
"We're trying to help them as much as we can," said Margarcelli.
The State Police Fire Marshal was called in to investigate the cause of the blaze.
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