Marshal investigates county fires
The state police fire marshal was unable to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a house last month in Pitt Gas, though the fire is not believed to be suspicious.
The fire at 167 First St. destroyed a two-story frame house owned by Gregory R. Petrock. Damage was estimated at $70,000.
The Clarksville Volunteer Fire Co. was called to the fire at about 2 a.m. Feb. 8. The house was “fully involved” when firefighters arrived, fire Chief Scott Gilblom said.
Petrock and another person in the house escaped without injury.
“He had tried to put the fire out, but it got out of control and he called 911,” Gilblom said.
The fire might have started from an electric heater in the living room, Gilblom said
“Everything (Petrock) told us and the way it burned was consistent with that,” he said.
State police fire marshal Trooper Craig Soltis said the fire was not suspicious. The roof of the building collapsed and the fire scene was too dangerous to enter to complete an investigation to determine the cause, he said.
Soltis did determine arson as the cause of a fire in November that destroyed to a mobile home at 620 Bobtown Road in Dunkard Township. The fire at about 1 a.m. Nov. 8, destroyed a mobile home owned by John P. Mayle of Maidsville, W.Va.
The mobile home was not occupied and it is believed someone entered it during the night and started the fire, Soltis said.
He is asking anyone with information to contact the fire marshal unit at 724-223-5200.
Soltis also is seeking information on two other fires he investigated in Greene County last year. The causes of both fires were listed as undetermined. However, suspicious vehicles were reported in the areas prior to the blazes.
The department has been completing follow-ups on its investigations.
“We figure if we can get some information out there, maybe we can stoke some people’s memories,” Soltis said.
A fire about 7 p.m. Sept. 19, destroyed a mobile home being used as a hunting cabin in the area of 487 Morford Road in Springhill Township. The home is owned by Robert C. Evans of Washington.
Soltis said people living in the area indicated two white males in their 20s in a small black truck, possibly a Chevrolet S-10 pickup, and another vehicle, were in the area and fled shortly before the fire started.
He also is investigating a fire at 10:30 p.m. March 18, that destroyed a barn at 286 Willow Bank Road in Jackson Township.
The property is owned by Harvey Litton of Holbrook. Soltis said a darker colored truck with an extended cab, possibly a Dodge, was observed stopping near the barn before the blaze.