State Police Fire Marshal Seth Helman has ruled that Monday morning’s fire in Blairsville was “incendiary in nature”, but did not specifically say that it was arson. He has set the damage amount at $425,000.
The fire was reported to Indiana County 911 at 4:50 AM, with fourteen fire companies dispatched, mostly for tanker assist as the firefighters dealt with a water shortage caused by a water main break that had occurred the day before.
While ruling that the fire was incendiary, Trooper Helman did not release much more information. He said the fire began in one of the occupied apartments, but did not reveal how it began, or if there are any criminal suspects as the investigation continues with the assistance of Blairsville Borough Police.
The building housed Fox’s Pizza Den and an attorney’s law offices on the first floor, and three apartments on the second floor, two of which were rented. One of the apartments was occupied by an elderly couple; the other by a man, a woman, and two children.
The building at the corner of Market and North Stewart streets is owned by 48-year-old Diane Hutchinson of New Florence.
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