Hegins Twp. fire is arson No. 6

HEGINS — For the sixth time since April 2009, a fire has been ruled arson in the Hegins Valley.
State police fire marshal Trooper John F. Burns is urging residents to be “vigilant” about people around vacant structures.
Burns, of the Frackville station, ruled Jan. 22 that a fire that destroyed a summer home at 12 Brook St. in Hegins Township on the evening of Jan. 21 was incendiary.
The three-story house was estimated to have been built in 1914, and is believed to have been owned by Irvin Savidge and Alice Sprout.
During an interview Jan. 22 before he made his ruling, Burns said he believed the owner(s) are from Colorado.
The last person to enter the three-story home before the fire was “a caretaker” who stopped by at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Burns said.
Burns did not release that person’s name.
He estimated the blaze caused $100,000 in damage.
According to Burns, the other arsons in the area occurred:
• April 22, 2009, destroying a dwelling at 408 E. Mountain Road, Hegins.
• July 8, destroying a summer home at 417 Pine Drive, Fountain.
• Aug. 21, destroying a vacant dwelling at 244 Orchard Road, Barry Township.
• Aug. 22, destroying a second structure at 408 E. Mountain Road, Hegins.
• Nov. 25-28, destroying a hunting cabin along Dell Road, Hegins.
Thursday’s fire was reported to the Schuylkill County Communications Center at 7:12 p.m., according to a communications supervisor.
More than 75 firefighters were on scene, said Valley View Fire Department Assistant Chief Chad Richards. Responders included firefighters from Hegins, Valley View, Joliett, Tremont, Donaldson, Klingerstown and Sacramento, as well as Hegins Township police, state police at Schuylkill Haven and Hegins Area Ambulance.
The fire was brought under control at 9:45 p.m., according to Richards.

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