MFD: House Fire Intentionally Set on South Side
By: Daisy O'Donnell
Updated: June 21, 2010
Flames engulfed a home on Monroe’s south side, during a fire that burned so quickly it threatened other homes.
Flames torched a house in the 1400 block of South 3rd Street off Winnsboro Road around 2 p.m. Monday.
The smoke could be seen miles away from Highway 165. Witnesses say that people who lived next door had to run for their lives, to escape flames that crept dangerously close to surrounding homes.
Monroe fire investigators say the fire was intentionally set because there were no working utilities in the abandoned home.
Neighbors who live next door, like Danielle Green, say that house fires intentionally set on abandoned homes are an epidemic—so she’s had to move.
“It’s a problem, these abandoned houses. They set it on fire. It could be this house next. This house (behind me) was set on fire already. All the (abandoned) houses here have been set on fire on this same street,” said Green.
Monroe fire officials are still investigating the cause.
Officials say neighbors told them people and children have been seen running in and out of the abandoned home prior to the fire.
