State police and local fire investigators spent the day in Carbondale Wednesday and said they will return Thursday after a fire Tuesday night destroyed two buildings.
A state police dog sniffed at the ashes Wednesday, searching for signs of accelerants.
Investigators spent the day at the burned-out ruins on River Street, in Carbondale where two vacant homes were destroyed.
Firefighters said one of the houses used to be a bakery and there were no utilities hooked up to the building.
"There were flames shooting all over the place. There were fire trucks everywhere," said Joe Calandi who owns a business across the street. He said the buildings have been empty for four or five years and have been an eyesore on the street. "From time to time there was kids going in there the first couple of years. Approximately a year ago they did board it up."
The house next door had only minor damage but the man who lives there said he was nervous that his house might be destroyed too.
"All the windows were broken. The vinyl melted, the vinyl siding on that side melted," said neighbor Connor Jefcoat. He had to spend the night elsewhere because of the damage, but is grateful the firefighters stopped the blaze from spreading. "Came back to this room which is my computer room,I saw inside the building. I saw it was burning. I called 911. I had my car parked here, (and) had to get it out of there."
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The fire chief said investigators will be back Thursday to review surveillance video from a neighboring business that may give them better insight into events that led to the fire.
A state police dog sniffed at the ashes Wednesday, searching for signs of accelerants.
Investigators spent the day at the burned-out ruins on River Street, in Carbondale where two vacant homes were destroyed.
Firefighters said one of the houses used to be a bakery and there were no utilities hooked up to the building.
"There were flames shooting all over the place. There were fire trucks everywhere," said Joe Calandi who owns a business across the street. He said the buildings have been empty for four or five years and have been an eyesore on the street. "From time to time there was kids going in there the first couple of years. Approximately a year ago they did board it up."
The house next door had only minor damage but the man who lives there said he was nervous that his house might be destroyed too.
"All the windows were broken. The vinyl melted, the vinyl siding on that side melted," said neighbor Connor Jefcoat. He had to spend the night elsewhere because of the damage, but is grateful the firefighters stopped the blaze from spreading. "Came back to this room which is my computer room,I saw inside the building. I saw it was burning. I called 911. I had my car parked here, (and) had to get it out of there."
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The fire chief said investigators will be back Thursday to review surveillance video from a neighboring business that may give them better insight into events that led to the fire.
