A Saturday night fire destroyed one home and damaged another in West Hazleton.
On Sunday, family members salvaged what belongings they could as a state police fire marshal looked for a cause of the huge fire that destroyed one house and heavily damaged a second in West Hazleton.
Investigators said the fire was deliberatly set.
Fire officials said the blaze started around 7:30 Saturday night in the back of a seasonal home on Ridge Avenue then spread to the home next door. Flames were shooting from the homes. A woman and her dog who live there made it out okay.
"This is my brother-in-law's house. It's a real shame," said Dennis Ingersoll of West Hazleton. He takes care of the home for his family who was planning on staying at the home for Thanksgiving.
"It's just too many memories. Lot of antiques were up in the attic and on different floors. Everything's destroyed. It's not replaceable. It's gone," added Ingersoll.
Fire officials said the fire on Ridge Avenue is now the second arson in West Hazleton in about a week. Many people who live in the area said they hope whoever is responsible is caught.
"We haven't had an accidental fire in many, many years here. Most of our fires have been actually arson related," said West Hazleton fire chief Bob Ward.
Just eight days before and just a few doors down, the fire chief said someone set a garage on fire.
Some who live in the area said the recent fires are concerning.
"There's a lot of homes here and we have a lot of elderly people in the community. So you've got to worry about the people along side these places. Hopefully they will find the people who are causing this and put a stop to it," said Rich Veith of West Hazleton.
Both homeowners do have insurance.
Investigators are looking at surveillance video and want to talk to anyone who may have seen a person near the homes around the time of the fire.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police in Hazleton at 570-459-3890.
On Sunday, family members salvaged what belongings they could as a state police fire marshal looked for a cause of the huge fire that destroyed one house and heavily damaged a second in West Hazleton.
Investigators said the fire was deliberatly set.
Fire officials said the blaze started around 7:30 Saturday night in the back of a seasonal home on Ridge Avenue then spread to the home next door. Flames were shooting from the homes. A woman and her dog who live there made it out okay.
"This is my brother-in-law's house. It's a real shame," said Dennis Ingersoll of West Hazleton. He takes care of the home for his family who was planning on staying at the home for Thanksgiving.
"It's just too many memories. Lot of antiques were up in the attic and on different floors. Everything's destroyed. It's not replaceable. It's gone," added Ingersoll.
Fire officials said the fire on Ridge Avenue is now the second arson in West Hazleton in about a week. Many people who live in the area said they hope whoever is responsible is caught.
"We haven't had an accidental fire in many, many years here. Most of our fires have been actually arson related," said West Hazleton fire chief Bob Ward.
Just eight days before and just a few doors down, the fire chief said someone set a garage on fire.
Some who live in the area said the recent fires are concerning.
"There's a lot of homes here and we have a lot of elderly people in the community. So you've got to worry about the people along side these places. Hopefully they will find the people who are causing this and put a stop to it," said Rich Veith of West Hazleton.
Both homeowners do have insurance.
Investigators are looking at surveillance video and want to talk to anyone who may have seen a person near the homes around the time of the fire.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police in Hazleton at 570-459-3890.
