GIRARDVILLE - A fire that heavily damaged two homes early Saturday was arson.
"This is a set fire," said state police fire marshal Trooper Michael Yeity of the blaze that started to the rear of unoccupied homes at 201-203 B St.
Yeity is working with Girardville fire Chief Frank Zangari Jr. and borough police to bring the arsonist to justice.
Yeity said someone lit the fire at a shed behind the properties and flames spread from there.
Although the fire marshal said the fire was set at the western side of the shed, he did not elaborate on the exact cause.
Firefighters were called about 12:15 a.m. for a shed fire but borough police Officer in Charge John Borchick arrived within minutes and reported flames spread to the homes.
Borchick said there was heavy fire to the rear of both homes when he got there.
He was at the police station two blocks away completing paperwork when he received the call about the fire, and he had no trouble finding where to go.
"I could see the flames when I left the station," Borchick said. "The whole back was blazing."
Both Yeity and Borchick said the investigation into the blaze is continuing.
Earlier in the morning, Borchick said one man was taken into custody for questioning about the fire but no arrests had been made.
Zangari said firefighters quickly knocked down flames to the rear of the building and were able to keep the damage to the two vacant structures.
Firefighters from Ashland and Shenandoah brought their aerial devices to the scene to assist with ventilating the roof of the 201 B St. home and helped battle the blaze.
Zangari credited firefighters with containing the fire despite all the homes having a common attic through which the flames could have spread.
"The firefighters did an outstanding job," he said. "They kept it to the two vacant buildings despite the common attics."
Zangari said one firefighter was injured, apparently suffering from smoke inhalation, and was treated at a local hospital and released.
In addition to the homes at 201-203 B St., homes on B Street, Vine Street and Ogden streets sustained heat damage to vinyl siding.
Steve Brozyno, who with his wife and son and daughter lives at 205 B St., said there was apparently minor smoke damage to their home.
Brozyno said he was at work then the fire was discovered and that his family was able to get out of the home safely.
EMS units from Lost Creek, Frackville and Mahanoy City assisted at the scene along with borough fire police, who provided both traffic and crowd control.