Nov 21, 2003 By Patty Shultz 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Investigators have determined that a fire that damaged an East Washington Avenue apartment complex last week was the act of an arsonist. The Nov. 14 blaze severely damaged one apartment and moderately damaged four others. No one was injured.

“It was intentionally set,” said city fire investigator Sgt. Vincent Traynor Thursday. “We found no malfunction in the electrical system and there was no evidence that it was an accident.”

Traynor said he could not determine what method was used to set the fire that was started on the rear porch of an apartment occupied by 90-year-old Ruth Miller.

The fire is the third in a two-block radius and the fourth within the past month. Traynor has now ruled all the three South Side area fires as arsons. The cause of the fourth fire is still under investigation.

Connellsville police Chief Stephen Cooper said the department has not determined whether one person or several individuals have set the fires.

“No one has reported seeing anyone before the fires start or hearing anything,” he said. “At this point we do not have any solid leads.”

In addition to the similarity of location, said Cooper, another common factor is that they have taken place during the early morning hours. Two took place on a Tuesday morning and the latest fire happened on a Friday.

The first arson-related fire took place at about 6 a.m. on Oct. 21 and destroyed a vacant 912-914 S. Pittsburgh St. residence owned by Mark Miller and Marylynn Pifferepti.

The fire also heavily damaged a neighboring home owned by Mary Skelton, who escaped without injury.

The second fire took place Nov. 4 and destroyed an abandoned 110 Green St. home. It, too, said Cooper was reported at about 6 a.m.

“No one is laying claim to these fires and we do not have a motive,” he said. “Two fires were started in vacant houses that were not insured; the last one was occupied by five families and it is insured.”

Investigators have not determined the cause of an Oct. 31 fire at Marco’s Pub, located along Arch Street. The fire destroyed the bar area of the business.

Cooper said patrols in neighborhoods throughout the city have been increased.

“We need residents to be more attentive to their neighborhoods,” said Cooper. “They need to report strange people, strange vehicles, noises that aren’t normally heard early in the morning or late at night.

“If they hear a car door in front of their house or in their alley, they need to call the police and let us find out what that person is doing. If they see someone that doesn’t belong in their neighborhood, they need to call us.

“We’d rather check something out that only turns out to be someone leaving for work early rather than have another fire that someone saw something and didn’t report it.”