Arson ruled in fires at vacant houses

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Two vacant homes set fire within minutes of each other on Waldo Street have been ruled arsons.
Fire Chief Tom Bulisco said two small fires were set on the outside porches of 503 Waldo St. at 11:19 p.m. Thursday. It was a vacant house that had been boarded up by the city.
Police believe that fire was set as a diversion for a second fire set minutes later at 522 Waldo St., a triplex that was also vacant. Bulisco said there was extensive damage to the first floor and the rear of the second floor at that home. It is owned by Aubrey Financial Services of Butler, he said.
Police have not determined who owned the first home. He estimated damage at 503 Waldo St. at about 5,000, and damage to the triplex at 10,000.
A car parked a few blocks away also was set ablaze a few hours later. Police charged Robert Brunswick, 28, of Catalina Drive, with arson. Police said a 1995 Ford Contour belonging to a woman from North Jackson, Ohio, caught fire after a stereo speaker set on top was ignited as it sat outside a Phillips Street house.
Police said a witness saw Brunswick igniting the stereo speaker at 1:18 a.m. Friday. Police said they had been called to Phillips Street twice earlier in the evening for domestic disputes.