Flames destroyed a vacant building in Northumberland County and now neighbors said they are going to keep a close eye on the neighborhood.
Fire officials said the building had been empty for about 15 years. The owner said he was currently working on the house and was getting ready to rent when it caught fire.
Bruce Opra surveyed the damage to his property. Flames ripped through the vacant building in Atlas, near Mount Carmel, destroying it.
"I can maybe put a garage in or something but there's no point in putting a house back here," Opra said.
He added the fire spread quickly. It was so hot it melted the siding of neighboring homes.
Opra said no utilities were on inside the building at the time. He's had problems with breakins and small fires at the house in the past.
"That's not something you want, especial with row homes. I'm sure everybody is going to keep much more of an eye out," Orpa added.
Neighbors said there are several vacant houses in the area and they are concerned what happened to Opra could happen again.
"So I'm constantly watching, making sure things are okay here," said neighbor Ronald Slobick. He lives just a few feet away and said his house also had severe damage because of the fire. Now he's going to keep a closer eye on the neighborhood.
"They're row homes. One of these kids could be in there partying or whatever. One little slip up, you could have one house go, you can have a whole block go," said Slobick.
Investigators are looking for the cause of the fire. The owner said he didn't have insurance and doesn't plan to rebuild.
Fire officials said the building had been empty for about 15 years. The owner said he was currently working on the house and was getting ready to rent when it caught fire.
Bruce Opra surveyed the damage to his property. Flames ripped through the vacant building in Atlas, near Mount Carmel, destroying it.
"I can maybe put a garage in or something but there's no point in putting a house back here," Opra said.
He added the fire spread quickly. It was so hot it melted the siding of neighboring homes.
Opra said no utilities were on inside the building at the time. He's had problems with breakins and small fires at the house in the past.
"That's not something you want, especial with row homes. I'm sure everybody is going to keep much more of an eye out," Orpa added.
Neighbors said there are several vacant houses in the area and they are concerned what happened to Opra could happen again.
"So I'm constantly watching, making sure things are okay here," said neighbor Ronald Slobick. He lives just a few feet away and said his house also had severe damage because of the fire. Now he's going to keep a closer eye on the neighborhood.
"They're row homes. One of these kids could be in there partying or whatever. One little slip up, you could have one house go, you can have a whole block go," said Slobick.
Investigators are looking for the cause of the fire. The owner said he didn't have insurance and doesn't plan to rebuild.
