Vacant house in Monessen destroyed by arson
MONESSEN – Monessen firefighters doused a gasoline can fire on the front porch of a vacant house Tuesday night, and then were called back five hours later to find the structure fully engulfed in flames.
The state police fire marshal Wednesday investigated the fire at 902 Maple Ave. and confirmed city fire Chief Chris Rhome’s findings that arson was the cause of the blaze as gasoline and motor oil were spread throughout the house before it went up in flames.
“Their intentions was for it to really take off,” Rhome said Wednesday.
The first call came in about 10:10 p.m. Tuesday. The second call arrived at 3:37 a.m. Wednesday.
No one was injured in either fire call, said Rhome. He said the owner of the house was unknown Wednesday.
The house has been vacant since Dec. 3, 2012, when Chris Fincik, 36, formerly of Charleroi, was shot and killed there as three men came through its back door, Rhome said.