Oct. 23--Arson has been determined to be the cause of a two-alarm house fire in York that left 12 people homeless in York Wednesday.
The fire appeared to have started in a duplex at 358 Oak Lane and spread to a neighboring house, 356, causing extensive damage. Two other homes also were damaged to the point of being uninhabitable, fire officials said. Damage was estimated at $100,000.
Chief Dave Michaels said the fire appeared to have been started in the breezeway between the two buildings. Firefighters found trash and mattresses in the narrow space.
Jennifer Beck, who lives across the street, said she was on the porch playing with a neighborhood cat just prior to the fire when she saw two teens running from one of the homes, laughing.
"I think it's horrible," she said. "What is wrong with these kids?"
The call came in at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday, and the fire was under control about 40 minutes later. Smoke from the fire could be seen from outside the city.
The neighborhood consists of neat homes, mostly duplexes, lining a narrow street running from Kings Mill Road to College Avenue between William Penn Senior High School and the Codorus Creek.
Linda Turner, who works at McKinley Elementary School, was at work when one of the teachers came to her and told her that her house was on fire. When she arrived, firefighters had it under control, but her home of five years was gutted. As she watched, her neighbors comforted her and offered everything from a jacket to a place for her and her son Eddie to stay.
"My neighbors, I thank God for them," she said.
Fire officials said there were no injuries.
The Red Cross reported it was assisting 12 people displaced by the fire.
One of them is Andrea Holloman, who lives at 356 Oak Lane with her 9-year-old son. She said she was out shopping at the time of the fire.
"I tried to turn onto my street but it was blocked by the fire engines," she said. "Then, I came up here and saw this."
Copyright 2013 - York Daily Record, Pa.
