Burglary 911 Call Followed By Fire At Pittsburgh HomeFirefighters Get Early-Morning Call To Orphan Street In LarimerPOSTED: 3:48 am EST November 4,
2009 PITTSBURGH -- Two 911 calls -- one about a burglary and another for a fire -- sent emergency crews to the same home in Pittsburgh's Larimer neighborhood early Wednesday morning.Channel 4 Action News Ari Hait was at the home on Orphan Street on Wednesday morning. He reported the fire started around 1:30 a.m.Fire crews managed to get flames under control within an hour, but the home suffered significant damage, Hait reported.According to emergency dispatchers, shortly before receiving the call for the fire, they received a call about a possible burglary at the same location.Investigators told Channel 4 Action News that a neighbor heard a lot of noise and saw six people -- three men and three women -- leave the home before the fire started."They later heard a lot of glass breaking, pounding -- things breaking -- and called police thinking these people were burglarizing," said Pittsburgh Police Lt. Dan Herman.Arson investigators were called to the scene but the cause of the fire remains unknown and authorities have not determined if the burglary and fire are linked."They deemed it was arson. It started in the couch in the living room and then burned through the walls," said Herman.Hait reported police are looking for three women in connection with the burglary call. No arrests have been made.No one was hurt in the fire, but Channel 4 Action News learned that some wires were knocked down.Duquesne Light was called to the scene to make repairs.Police said the home was vacant after the tenant moved out last month. A relative of the tenant was supposed to take over the lease, but that process hadn't yet begun."She said her cousin was eventually going to take over the lease and move in in November. That exchange hasn't happened at this time. The owner said the cousin, who we don't know at this time, hasn't moved in yet," said Herman.Police said if any arrests are made, those taken into custody will be charged with burglary, arson and criminal conspiracy.
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