Firefighters respond to 3 blazes

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — City firefighters responded to three suspected arsons in vacant houses, two in the same South Side block.

The first call came in at 12:41 a.m. Sunday at a house at 1307 Charlotte Ave. on the city’s East Side.

The first crew on the scene found fire on both the first and second floors of the vacant house, indications that fires had been started in multiple areas, according to firefighters.

Damage was estimated at $10,000, and the fire department has requested that the structure be placed on the city’s demolition list.

The second call came in at 4:26 p.m. Sunday at a three-story house at 220 E. Florida Ave. where firefighters said someone set fire to a bedroom curtain or blind.

No damage amount was listed.

The third call came in at 8:53 p.m. Sunday at a two-story house at 253 E. Florida Ave.

Firefighters said smoke was visible when they arrived, and they found a fire fed by newspapers and charcoal in the front room.

A neighbor reported hearing two people talking just before the fire was discovered, but she didn’t get a description of them.

Firefighters said there had been a previous fire in the kitchen area of this house.

Damage was estimated at $500.