Monessen firefighters battle blaze at abandoned house

By the MVI
Monessen firefighters spent nearly three hours at the scene of a fire in a vacant house early Wednesday.
According to Municipal Fire Chief Delmar Hepple, firefighters battled the fire at 624 Ninth St. from 12:17 a.m. until nearly 3 a.m. Wednesday.
“It was a two-story residential structure. It was fully involved upon my arrival. There were no utilities connected,” Hepple said. “It was five doors down from where we had a fire two weeks ago.”
Hepple said a Pennsylvania state police fire marshal has been called to investigate both fires.
“The neighbors need to be vigilant. If you see something that doesn’t look right, call 911,” Hepple said.
Hepple said the house that burned Wednesday had been empty since about 2012 and he doesn’t believe the structure was insured. The heavily damaged building needs to be demolished, Hepple said.
Hepple said no other buildings were endangered by Wednesday’s fire. The house which had been next door burned several years ago and there is now a vacant lot there, Hepple said.
Firefighters from Monessen Hilltop, Monessen No. 1, Charleroi, Carroll Township and Rostraver Township responded. Hepple said Washington Township’s tanker truck was also called to the scene as a precaution, but was not needed.
— Reporting by Kristie Linden and Christine Haines