By John Adam
The Progress-Index
ST. PETERSBURG, Va. — Two firefighters were injured while fighting a suspected arson fire on South Dunlop Street early Monday. Investigators said the fire was most likely started on purpose.
The Petersburg Fire Department responded to the house fire in the 500 block of South Dunlop Street at 3:59 a.m.
According to Fire Marshal James Reid, the fire originated on the front porch of the building, and spread to the first floor of the house. Firefighters arrived on scene shortly after 4 a.m and were able to contain the blaze mostly to the first floor, though Reid noted that the flames “did get up to the attic space.”
Reid said that the house was vacant, and nobody was inside the house when firefighters arrived.
Two firefighters sustained non-life threatening injuries when the front porch of the building collapsed while they were standing on it. One of the firefighters was sent to the hospital where he was treated for injuries and released; the other was treated for minor injuries on-scene.
The scene was cleared at 7:43 a.m, though investigators were on scene throughout the morning determining the cause of the fire.
Reid said that the department suspects the fire was started on purpose on the front porch of the building.
“We believe that accelerants were used,” said Reid. “It appears at this time to be an intentionally set fire.”
Special K9 units from Richmond were brought in, and Reid said the unit “hit on several spots that were suspicious”.
Reid noted that the investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
“We will not know that flammable liquids were used until the laboratory examination comes back,” he said.
The department was canvassing the neighborhood surrounding the house, asking if neighbors saw anything suspicious.
Reid wishes to remind City residents to properly install smoke and fire detectors and to check them regularly.
Copyright 2017 The Progress-Index
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