Homeless Man Sparked Washington, D.C. Blaze

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A homeless man is being blamed for a fire that damaged five row houses late Tuesday.

The blaze broke out around 8:30 p.m. in the 24-hundred block of Third Street, NW. Fire officials said it appears the homeless man, who was staying in one of the vacant homes, discarded some smoking materials which then caught some blankets he had on fire.

The blaze went to two alarms and destroyed the homes on either side of the house where the fire originated. Two other homes were damaged by smoke and water.

The fire has caused some displacements. Damage to the homes is only estimated at 40-thousand dollars.