A house in Antis Township caught on fire for the second time in three days on Saturday morning.
The home of Amy McElhinney on Lower Riggles Gap Road had first caught on fire on Thursday afternoon.
Pinecroft Fire Chief Melvin Pfahler said the call on Thursday came in at 12:24 p.m. and the fire took about 30 to 45 minutes to get under control. Fire crews were on the scene until 2:30 p.m.
Chief Pfahler said the fire caused damage to one room and there was smoke and heat damage in another room. A state police fire marshal was called to investigate the fire and a state police dog detected chemicals.
Pfahler said the fire was being looked at as a “possible arson.” He said the house could not be occupied after the first fire. McElhinney and her children were being assisted by the American Red Cross and were staying at a motel in the Altoona area.
The second fire was reported at 6:58 a.m. on Saturday and the home was destroyed as a result. Chief Pfahler said Saturday’s fire took 60 to 90 minutes to get under control and crews were on the scene until 2:30 p.m.
He said the state police fire marshal came to the scene while the fire was still being handled and remained on scene to conduct an investigation on Saturday.
A state police dog was used and chemicals were detected again, according to Pfahler. The second fire is also being looked at as a “possible arson.”
The investigating fire marshal could not be reached for comment by today’s press deadline.
