Second fire in 2 days also looks like arson
For the second time in two days police and fire officials have what appears to be a case of arson on their hands. As in last night’s report, no one was hurt…but that is little consolation to the half dozen people left homeless. Patrick Jones has the story.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
The building located on Arlington Drive was home to six people, including three small children, five of whom were inside when it erupted in flames. Owner of the house Violet Usher says she was about to go to bed when she realized that something was not right.
Violet Usher, Fire Victim
?The fire started from downstairs, I was praying, you know I usually pray, because I tell God my life is at stake, I felt it. I pray and I get up. And I put my bible on the bed head, take off my glasses because I had an accident many years ago and I don?t see good, put the glasses on it. I had already changed my clothes, I locked my door, my daughters went in. I hear shuffling, like, people moving. But I said maybe it?s my son came in.?
But as it turns out, it wasn?t because Usher says that shortly after hearing the noise downstairs, she smelt smoke and came downstairs to investigate.
Violet Usher
?My son downstairs was open, the door was wide open. And I see like a barrel; I had barrel down there. And I see the mattress that was on the floor, they set it up and the fire was just under the flooring. So I tell my daughter, get the children them out, somebody set our house on fire.?
Patrick Jones
?Were you able to save anything in the fire??
Violet Usher
?Sir, what I save, one grip, I think that my sister had brought from the states for me. And a plastic thing to put in bread and sweet things. That?s all. And the light bill and the water bill money was there.?
Assistant Fire Chief Ted Smith says firemen arrived on the scene around eleven thirty, but there was little they could do to save the house from being gutted.
Ted Smith, Assistant Fire Chief
?The fire was already in what we consider to be an advanced stage. The fire was in a free burning phase and an open stage, which in fire fighting terminology it?s an advance stage of the fire. The fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished.?
And while the investigation is still in its preliminary phase, Smith is already discounting one possible cause of the late night blaze that has left Usher and her family homeless.
Ted Smith
?We can rule out electricity as the investigation does not give any evidence to support an electrical cause. So we rule out electricity. However, we do not know exactly what started the fire. We know that the fire started approximately some four to five feet high in the wooden structure, the smaller downstairs.?
Still in shock, Usher today told News Five that she has no doubt, that it was her ex common law husband who is responsible for setting the house on fire.
Violet Usher
?Because this man threatened that he was going to kill me twice.?
Patrick Jones
?Why would you common law husband want to burn your house down??
Violet Usher
?Because I do not want to take him back because he has done me something that is wrong. I live with him for five years. He cheated on me more than once, more than twice. He take women in the house that I have my money in his house in Cotton Tree. I caught them naked, both of them and the woman was in my bed, sir.?
Her claim of arson appears strong, investigators say because the fire started about five feet off the ground, its unlikely there was a spontaneous combustion. Patrick Jones for News 5.
Police are asking Violet Usher’s ex-common-law husband to please present himself to answer some questions.
