Investigation points to arson in house fire

SHARON, Pa. -- Arson has been ruled as the cause of a fire that destroyed one house and damaged a second on North Oakland Avenue.
Fire Chief Arthur Scarmack said that a state police fire marshal determined the fire was deliberately set at the home of Amy Runyan shortly before 5 a.m. Tuesday.
Runyan and her four children were in the process of moving to Farrell and there were no utilities in their home at 438 N. Oakland Ave., Scarmack said.
They didn't spend the night there but were sleeping at a home next door owned by a relative, he said.
Investigators found no indication of any accelerants but determined that the speed with which the fire destroyed the two-story frame house indicated that the fire was started in more than one place, Scarmack said.
He estimated the damage to the Runyan house at $40,000 plus contents.
The blaze spread to the home of Christopher Grlica next door at 430 N. Oakland Ave.
Damage to that house was about $20,000, Scarmack said.