Has it started up again? A fire destroyed a vacant trailer in Cherry Lane Estates
When the fire call came in at 10:43 p.m. Tuesday with a location of 134 Gary Lane in Cherry Lane Estates, the first thing on Somerset Fire Chief Jim Clark's mind was what happened about five years ago and hoping it was not starting again.
Numerous arsons of vacant trailers in Cherry Lane Estates hit the community in 2018-19.
On Tuesday night, the vacant trailer at 134 Gary Lane was fully engulfed when Clark arrived, the first on the scene and minutes after the call came through. There was nothing left to save. The trailers on either side of the one in flames were also vacant but not damaged. The trailer behind, however, was occupied and the fire had spread, Clark said.
Observers were everywhere during the response. Five years ago, night after night the neighborhood did not know if another trailer would go up in smoke and fire. From May 2018 to March 2019 about 17 trailer fires were set. Many vacant trailers were destroyed. People living in the trailer court were concerned. Several formed a night watch group and patroled their streets.
To date, there are still between 40 to 50 people living there, families and individuals. Some from the time of the arsons.
On Tuesday night, The fire department strived to protect exposures, like the trailer in the rear of 134 Gary Lane, and life safety, Clark said.
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"There was some damage to the trailer behind and some of the fire got into the wiring making the structure uninhabitable. We had to relocate (the occupants) who we believe are now staying with family," he said.
The fire along Gary Lane was the 238th fire call for Somerset Fire Department this year, Clark said. "We have really been extremely busy."
On this call, there were 35 firefighters at the scene from five Somerset County fire departments: Somerset, Friedens, Listie, Rockwood and Sipesville. Borough police and Somerset Area Ambulance also assisted.
Somerset police did nightly rounds in the trailer park when the fires were being set five years ago.
"It is difficult living in an area that had so many arson fires," said Somerset Acting Police Chief Rich Appel.
The cause and origin of Tuesday's fire are still listed as unknown, Appel said. The fire marshal is investigating the scene and will make the determination, he said.
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"The fire did occur in an area that approximately five years ago over an extended period of time was the scene of criminal episodes of arson," Appel said.
"We are asking for citizens' vigilance and to report anything suspicious. Anyone who knows anything about what happened Tuesday night is asked to call borough police at 814-445-4596.
State police have joined with the borough police to investigate the incident.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Has it started up again? A Somerset fire destroys a vacant trailer
