Fire at vacant McKeesport home appears to be suspicious, fire chief says

MCKEESPORT, Pa. — A vacant home that went up in flames Wednesday evening appears to be a suspicious fire, McKeesport Fire Chief Jeffrey Tomovcsik told Channel 11 News.

“No utilities to the house, so at this time, it does appear to be suspicious,” Tomovcsik said.

Police said they first received a call Wednesday about some juveniles who were spotted in and around a vacant home in the 3000 block of Jersey Street. When officers arrived, they found no one.%

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Within 15 minutes, a second call came in about a fire at a vacant home about five houses down from the original call. Police said when they arrived, they saw a male and a female running from the area. Several officers searched the area but were unable to locate anyone.

Neighbors, including Paris Purdue, said they saw two people jump out of a window of the burning home.

“Some kids (were) jumping out the windows and what not,” Purdue said.

In recent weeks, suspicious fires have plagued the city of McKeesport.

Just two ago on July 4, a vacant house on Grandview Avenue caught fire. In that case, police said three juveniles are being charged with arson.

“Not only do we work in the department, every full-time firefighter in the city of McKeesport lives in the city of McKeesport. So when this happens, it just doesn’t affect this neighborhood. It affect the city as a whole,” Tomovcsik said.

Cox Media Group