Mar 4, 2016 By Steve Barrett 3 min read

WAYNESBURG — Authorities are continuing to investigate four separate structure fires that occurred in different parts of Greene County over the past year — including one that occurred last month — and are now asking the public to assist with the investigations.

Trooper Craig Sholtis of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop B Fire Marshal Unit in Washington said Wednesday that the unit is conducting ongoing investigations into one structure fire that occurred in Morgan Township on Feb. 8, another one that occurred in Dunkard Township in November, a third one that was reported in Morgan Township in September, and a fourth one that occurred in Dunkard Township in March 2015.

Sholtis said the unit is currently trying to determine the cause of a structure fire at 167 1st St. in Morgan Township sometime between 5 and 6 a.m. Feb. 8. Police said the fire caused approximately $70,000 in damages to the two-story residence owned by Gregory Richard Petrock of Clarksville.

The origin and cause of the fire have not yet been determined, Sholtis said.

The unit is also investigating a trailer fire that occurred between 1 and 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 8 at 620 state Route 2011 in Dunkard Township. Police said the fire originated inside the trailer owned by John P. Mayle of Maidsville, W.Va. and caused approximately $1,500 in damages.

Sholtis said that based on the scene examination and their information obtained during their investigation, the classification of the fire is “incendiary in nature,” meaning it is believed to be arson. The investigation did determine that two unknown subjects were spotted in the immediate area when the fire occurred, he added.

Sholtis said the unit is also investigating a fire in the area of 487 Morford Road in Springhill Township that occurred at 7 p.m. on Sept. 19. Police said the structure owned by Robert C. Evans of Washington — a single-wide trailer primarily used as a hunting cabin — caused approximately $1,000 in damages.

Sholtis said interviews were conducted in the area and information came available that two white males in their 20s were seen in the area operating a smaller, black truck, possibly an S-10 model, along with another vehicle that fled the scene shortly before the fire began.

The origin and cause of the fire have not yet been determined, Sholtis said.

Sholtis said the unit is also looking for information related to a barn fire that occurred at 286 Willow Bank Road in Jackson Township at 10:30 p.m. on March 18, 2015. Police said a vehicle next to the barn was also burned, and the total damages were estimated to be approximately $40,000. The barn and vehicle were owned by Harvey Litten of Holbrook, according to reports.

Sholtis said the investigation determined that a darker-colored, extended cab truck, possibly a Dodge model, was seen in the area when the fire occurred.

The origin and cause of the fire have not yet been determined, Sholtis said.

Sholtis added that no injuries were reported at any of the incidents, and that the investigations so far have led them to believe that the incidents are not connected.

Sholtis said the incidents that occurred in 2015 were previously reported to the public, but the unit decided to re-release the reports with the Feb. 8 report in the hopes that any potential witnesses might be able to provide more details about those incidents.

“Even though the earlier incidents are still open investigations, we have not been able to get any updated leads on them,” he said. “Hopefully, by re-releasing the reports, someone might come forward and provide us with some much-needed information.”

Anyone with information about the incidents should contact the state police Fire Marshal Unit at 724-223-5200.