08/31/04 — House burns again, and again

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House burns again, and again

By Jack Stephens
Published in News on August 31, 2004 1:59 PM

SEVEN SPRINGS -- A vacant brick home -- already damaged in a fire that authorities ruled was an arson -- was set on fire again Monday, according to a Wayne County Sheriff's Office report.

An Emergency Services official said Monday that the latest fire at 5178 Indian Springs Road was started on a dining-room curtain. The official, Brian Taylor, said someone apparently had broken a window to get inside and then set the fire to the home of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Phillips.

A Wayne County Sheriff's Office report listed the estimated damage at $3,000.

"If they keep on," Seven Springs Fire Chief Rick Sutton said today of the suspects, "the place will be a total loss, with the fire and water damage."

The home was valued at $233,000.

Seven Springs and Pricetown volunteer firefighters answered the 2:50 p.m. call, put out the fire and called for authorities who resumed their investigation.

"We didn't have any trouble finding the place after being there three times. Maybe we should move out there," Sutton said.

Sutton said the 15 Seven Springs and eight Pricetown volunteers, who brought a combined seven trucks, quickly contained the fire. But they needed a longer time to finish salvage work.

Damage in the fire Friday was estimated at $15,000. When that fire rekindled, firefighters had to return later.