Shamokin Fires
By: Brittany Sweeney
Updated: January 29, 2013
SHAMOKIN, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY- "Too many fires. Seven major fires in five days. A few are legit, but what about these ones that aren't? asks, Pat Kasner. She is scared for her neighborhood, where several fires have broke out in a matter of days. The most recent Monday night along the 600 block of East Sunbury Street in Shamokin. 'I think it's ridiculous. It's sad. All these empty buildings are catching on fire. Why?" adds, Kasner. Three brick row homes, along with a single home next door, were all severely damaged from the fire that started around 10:30pm. . "The fires started in the first brick structure going East, which would be probably be 602 East Sunbury Street. It started in the rear and in the basement. That much of a determination we do have." says, Craig Rhoades, Director of Public Safety. Although Rhoades will not say if the fire is suspicious, there are similarities between this fire and two others that started last Thursday, just blocks away. "Yes, we have to give consideration that all the structures in Shamokin were vacant. So that does lead us to think that we might have something going on unusual." says, Rhoades. One man is now behind bars in the Northumberland County Prison, being held on a probation warrant. "As of last night, we do have one person in custody in reference to the fire that happened last night." says, Patrolman Jarrod Scandle. The question now; is this fire related to any of the other fires? Police plan on filing charges Tuesday afternoon, and hope the public will be at ease now that one man is in custody. "I think the residents will be at east now that we do have someone in custody." adds Scandle.
