Arson fire doused in vacant Monessen house
An arson fire Thursday afternoon caused minimal damage at an abandoned house in Monessen.
The fire was reported at 1:18 p.m. at 327 Marguerite Ave. Monessen fire Chief Chris Rhome said a Peoples Gas employee working in the area detected smoke and called the department, which responded first. Rhome said he initially found a toilet on fire and that the small blaze spread to the attic before being contained.
“I don’t know how it started,” the chief added, saying “it was blatantly obvious” this was a case of arson.
There were no injuries. Monessen’s two fire companies responded along with units from Rostraver and Carroll townships, Charleroi and Belle Vernon. Mon Valley EMS also was on the scene.