Jan 10, 2007 By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – City police are investigating a late Monday fire that has been listed as arson by the state police fire marshal, but local investigators are speculating that it was accidentally started rather than intentionally set. “It has been listed as arson by the state police fire marshal,” said city police Chief Stephen Cooper on Tuesday of the 608 E. Murphy Ave. fire. “However, there were no combustibles found.

“We believe that someone broke into the house and might have left behind a cigarette which started the fire.

“We do not believe at this time that it was intentionally set.”

Connellsville fire Chief Joe Childs said New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Co. responded to the 10:50 p.m. fire that started in a second floor bedroom.

“We were there about two and one-half hours,” he said. “The damage was confined to the second floor, but there is smoke and water damage to the rest of the house.”

The property, owned by a Texas-based mortgage company, Homecomings Financial, has been vacant for an extended period of time, said Childs, with all the utilities disconnected.

Cooper said the vacant house has been used in the past as a haven for teens to gather.

“It is padlocked, but they break the hasp and get in,” he said.

In October, city emergency personnel responded to an arson-related fire at a vacated Decatur Avenue residence.

“It was intentionally set,” said Cooper, stating that combustible materials were found in the basement.

No arrests have been made in the ongoing investigations.

For more than two years – spanning from Oct. 21, 2003, until Feb. 23, 2005, local fire companies, the police department and ambulance service responded to more than two-dozen arsons within the city limits.

Over the course of time, unknown arsonists targeted vacant and occupied homes, and apartment buildings along with businesses, a local football stadium and the Wesley United Methodist Church.

Five Connellsville residents have been convicted for several of the arsons.

Two teens were prosecuted through the Fayette County Juvenile Probation Office for their role in the Dec. 7, 2004, fire in a storage room at the Connellsville Area School District football stadium.

Harvey Upton, 38, was convicted of arson and risking a catastrophe in connection with a blaze at his Sycamore Street residence on Oct. 22, 2004. He was sentence to 24 to 48 months in a state prison.

Harry Collins, 59, was sentenced in February 2006 to four to 20 years in prison for setting two fires within the city.

The jury found Collins guilty of arson and risking a catastrophe in the Feb. 23, 2005, fire at the Wesley United Methodist Church and the Aug. 16, 2004, fire at the 1116 Race St. home of Margaret Lewellen.

The jury acquitted Collins of setting the fires at the Pujia Hair Salon, located at 107 Church Place, and a 407 S. Arch St. residence owned by David Cressman.

“This latest fire does not fit into the category of those previous arsons,” said Cooper.

Chuck E. Rummel, 31, was sentenced to two-year probation after he was found guilty of setting two porch fires at his 109 E. Patterson Ave. apartment building.