Pocono News Section

Huge Fire Destroys Two Lackawanna County Houses

Huge Fire Destroys Two Lackawanna County Houses - Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 04:10AM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Wednesday May 12 2010
CARBONDALE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A state police fire marshal is heading the investigation into a fire Tuesday night that destroyed two unoccupied buildings.

The fire at 18 and 22 River Street could be seen for several blocks. Flames began in one vacant home and jumped to another. Neither had utilities hooked up to it and both were destroyed.

Carbondale Fire Chief Tom Brennan says it could have been even worse. The huge fire was threatening yet another building as crews from a block away and neighboring departments worked quickly. "They did a pretty good job on the home next door which is occupied and there's a construction garage in the back there," said Chief Brennan. "They kept it contained to the two structures and saved the other two. They did an excellent job here, the guys."

One firefighter suffered what's believed to be a minor injury at the scene.

Carbondale has been plagued by several arsons in recent years. Even though no one was certain Tuesday night if this fire was intentionally set, Carbondale Mayor Justin Taylor spoke about the arson problem. "We don't think that there is a pattern really per se other than you know vacant, abandoned, blighted properties and sometimes they're condemned," said Mayor Taylor. "I just think, again, it's just an attractive nuisance for someone who has an issue with fire."

The mayor says the city will work quickly to demolish what's left of the fire-damaged buildings on River Street.