House Fire, Arson Suspected
By: Import User
Updated: March 2, 2008
Firefighters responded to a fire on 6th Ave. at 1:14 am early Monday morning. The home was vacant, and no one was injured. Around 7:20, firefighters were called back to the same home in response to a second fire. The first fire is suspected to be arson. The second is still under investigation. Investigators say it could have rekindled from a hot spot, or could have been set again. The home belonged to Karen Perkins and her family. They lived in the home for 42 years. Karen was the last to move out just over a year ago when her mother passed away. In the past year, shes suspected that homeless people were breaking into the vacant home, so she boarded up windows and doors. She says, "apparently they got in anyway, and may be responsible for the fire."
Fire Investigators say they typically respond to 30 to 40 fires per month. This February they only had 11, and say that number is unusually low. Sunday night, into Monday morning, the fire department responded to four fires in less than 12 hours. Investigator Richard Howard says unfortunately, "it looks like March will be back on track."
