Monday, August 28, 2006
Nineteen separate fires were set in a Vienna house before it was torched again.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
VIENNA -- Investigators are attempting to come up with the motive for two arsons at the same house -- with the second blaze demolishing the structure.
"It's arson. There's no doubt about it," Stephen Moldenhauer, an investigator with the Trumbull County Fire Investigation Unit, confirmed today.
"They were successful the second time," township Fire Chief Richard Brannon added.
The chief said the first fire broke out about 12:30 a.m. Friday at a house under construction at 4975 Turkey Run Road.
Brannon said 19 separate small fires were set throughout the two-story house into which the James Getz family was to move Sept. 30.
Moldenhauer said a flammable liquid was soaked into the wooden floors in various parts of the house.
Damage is estimated at $5,000.
The house is off Sodom-Hutchings Road in the Cardinal Estates development where new, upscale houses have been built for at least five years.
Helping out
The chief said the fire department was called out about 1:45 a.m. Sunday. Brookfield and Liberty firefighters also responded through mutual aid.
Brannon said the house was fully engulfed as he was on his way to the blaze.
"The house is in the basement now. It's a total loss. It was a hot fire," the chief said.
The flames melted the siding on an adjacent house at 4995 Turkey Run.
Brannon said he feels bad about the family losing the house it planned to make into a home.
"My heart goes out to the family. They were distraught the first time," Brannon said.
Brannon, who has turned the investigation over to the county investigative unit, said he didn't know the motive for the fires.
Moldenhauer said the Getz family doesn't know of anyone who had a reason to burn the house, or who has a vendetta against them.
Moldenhauer said he thinks the same person or people set the fires.
Brannon termed the fires "an isolated case" because there haven't been many fires in the township. "I don't think it's something people should be worried about," he added.
The investigative unit is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist. Anyone with information is asked to call the unit at (330) 883-1085.
yovich@vindy.com