Youngstown firefighters battle vacant home blazes

YOUNGSTOWN — Firefighters battled fires at two vacant houses late Monday evening and early this morning.

Crews were called to an 87 E. Philadelphia Ave. home on the South Side about 3:45 a.m. today that had heavy fire showing and a nearby home was threatened by the flames. Firefighters experienced some water-pressure problems from two nearby hydrants but were able to hook up to a hydrant across Southern Boulevard and protect nearby homes. The vacant home was allowed to burn to the ground. Damage is listed at $7,670.

A vacant home at 853 Kenneth Ave. on the East Side was also allowed to burn to the ground after the first crews on the scene at 10:40 p.m. Monday found it to be engulfed in flames. Damage is listed at $5,000 in that blaze.

The cause of the fires is under investigation, reports said.