Fire chief: Monessen house fire caused by squatters
MONESSEN – Squatters attempting to stay warm set a fire in a fireplace with a closed-off chimney, filling a Monessen apartment with smoke Thursday night, the city fire chief said.
The squatters were gone when firefighters arrived after the call came in at 7:30 p.m. regarding the house at 19 Aliquippa Ave., fire Chief Chris Rhome said.
“There was nowhere for the smoke to go,” Rhome said.
No one was injured in the blaze, and the fire was contained to the fireplace area, Rhome said.
He said a state police fire marshal investigated and found no evidence of an accelerant being used to start a fire in the two-story house owned by David Espey.
“It was more mischievous than anything else,” Rhome said.
The fire was not related to two others Jan. 2 in abandoned houses in the city, Rhome said. Those fires were intentionally set.
The Aliquippa Avenue house has been unoccupied since November, he said.