MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Investigators were back on the scene Friday of at least one of six fires in Morgantown that occurred in a 24 hour period.
“We’re trying to determine who’s responsible or it is a person or persons. We don’t know. We are looking at all leads at this point,” said Morgantown Fire Marshal Captain Ken Tennant.
The second day of investigations was focused on a fire at a duplex apartment on Third Street. It was one of 5 fires investigators believe were intentionally set.
“The bottom unit was vacant at the time. But the top unit, the occupants were in the process of moving in. They very easily could’ve been there. It could have been a tragic event. No question,” Tennant said.
Morgantown City Council recently passed an ordinance making it illegal to have indoor furniture on porches or in lawns. The owner of the unit said a couch that was set on fire had just been sat out to be hauled away.
“It was not hauled away at the time it was moved out and resulted in being a target for someone to set a fire on unfortunately,” Tennant explained.
The apartment fire came in between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Thursday. During that time, Morgantown firefighters were called to the scene of three other trash or dumpster fires. All four are considered suspicious.
Investigators have concluded the fire at a vacant, condemned structure on Beechurst Avenue was also intentionaly set.
“I can say we are working on several leads and trying to follow any tip that we receive.” Tennant urged anyone with information to call the Arson Tip Line at 304-225-3586 or contact the Morgantown Police Department.
Tennant has been with Morgantown Fire Department for nearly 2 decades. He said additional crews had to be called in late in overnight. The evening shift had already responded to an accident fire at a home Wednesday at 7:06 p.m.
“To have three structure fires and you throw in all these other nuisance fires, it was extremely busy. All of our resources were taxed,” stated Tennant. “We didn’t have any more equipment available. More or less, everybody was working that’s employed at the fire department.