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Jeannette Fire Deemed Arson, Cause Of 2nd One Still Unknown

JEANNETTE (KDKA) -- Police say a Jeannette fire back in January was intentionally set and they're still trying to determine the cause of a second fire.

Angelo Barberio didn't need an investigation to figure out the fire next to his business was intentionally set.

"Being from Jeannette, I thought for sure that's what it was," said Barberio.

State Police confirmed the Jan. 21 South 3rd Street blaze as arson. The home's owner, 71-year-old Betsy Long escaped the flames but was hurt.

"She put clothes out for kids, take them to church, give them to poor people," said Barberio. "They went by, hit it with a match or something. They laid it up against the siding. That's what caught fire."

"She could have died from smoke inhalation," Barberio added.

While arson investigators have determined the one fire was intentionally set, there are still lots of questions about the one that happened on St. Clair Avenue.

"The smoke was really bad," said homeowner Tracy May. "I opened the door and that's all I saw. Didn't see flames, just smoke."

May's home suffered heavy damage from a fire April 3. Five people inside were alerted to the fire by a neighbor. Although not definitive, investigators are leaning toward a fire pit starting the fire. May isn't so sure.

"When I came home, the fire was out," she said. "And they weren't eve out there and it's over here."

How the fire started on St. Clair Avenue is still not known. Who started the fires on 3rd Street is what police want to know. If you have any information, you're asked to call Jeannette Police.

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