Pocono News Section

Fire Victims Believe Revenge Was Motivation for Fire

Fire Victims Believe Revenge Was Motivation for Fire - Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 4:18PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 @ 04:18pm EDT
MIDDLE SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY - It took a family years to build a home at the intersection of Price, Smithfield and Middle Smithfield Townships in the Poconos.

Bob Counterman said, "My sons and us all built the house - everything carpentry and masonry and all that. We built the house."

It took an arsonist just moments to set fire and burn the place down. Counterman cried, "It's part of my heart tore out."

Mary Ealey raised eight children in the house. She cried, "We built it from scratch. And now it's gone."

Firefighters from three companies rushed to the house on the dirt road called Forest Lane at about 12:30 Wednesday. Marshalls Creek Fire Chief Joe Quaresimo said, "We had fire coming out of the second floor roof and the gable end area."

Police say the fire isn't the only trouble they've seen at the house recently. Just a couple of weeks ago a man apparently set himself on fire there. The fire chief said, "He was treated and released."

The victim's family believes that many may have been seeking revenge. Counterman said, "I don't know where he is but I hope he's far enough where I can't get him."

Ealey told Eyewitness News she recently moved out and left the house empty. She said the man stayed in the home without her permission. Counterman said, "That's why I put all these signs up. No trespassing! Can't people read?"

The family kicked the man out. Some say he threatened to burn the place down. Ealey cried, "I wanna ask them why they would do this to me. I help everybody. I don't understand why my house was burned to the ground."

Police didn't name a suspect. The family said even if the police catch the fire starter, it won't bring back the home they built together. Counterman said, "All my life savings went in on that."