Arson cause of four weekend fires

YOUNGSTOWN — Four vacant houses were deliberately burned over the weekend, the fire department said.

At 10:30 p.m. Sunday, firefighters sent to 1637 Atkinson Ave. on the East Side found the structure fully engulfed in flames. Damage was set at $10,000, a total loss. Earlier Sunday, at 4:30 a.m., crews were sent to 445 Pyatt St. on the South Side and allowed the house to burn down for safety reasons. Ohio Edison was called to the scene because a utility pole and transformer nearby were burning. Damage to the house was set at $10,000, a total loss.

Friday night, fire was showing on the first and second floors when crews arrived at 2540 Taft Ave. on the South Side at 10:15 p.m. Firefighters said it appeared the fire was started in a rear pantry off the second floor. Damage was set at $10,000 and demolition requested. At 5:15 p.m. Friday, fire was set at 145 Thornton Ave. on the North Side, the scene of a homicide five days earlier. A fire had also been set at the structure on Nov. 19. Damage from Friday’s fire was $5,000, a total loss.