St. Paul Crews Battle Back-to-Back Arson Fires

Aug. 26, 2008
As crews returned from a garage fire, they were alerted to a house fire one block away from the first call.

St. Paul firefighters were returning from one arson fire when they were alerted to a second one nearby on Aug. 24.

Just after 6 p.m., firefighters responded to a garage fire in 500 block of Edmund Ave. in the Frogtown neighborhood.

Firefighters found a well involved vacant garage in the rear alley of 547 Charles St. The crews quickly knocked the fire, and mopped up. The house at the same address was torched in February.

As the companies were returning from the garage fire, they were alerted to a house fire in the 600 block of Edmund Ave. - just one block west of the first fire.

They found heavy smoke coming from a two-and-a-half story dwelling with flames showing from the rear of the home. This also was a vacant property.

First arriving firefighters stretched two hand lines and quickly controlled the fire. Additional crews performed searches and ventilation as the home was charged with smoke.

About 25 firefighters were on the scene.

"That neighborhood has been targeted by an arsonist of arsonists," St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard said.

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