Another Arson Fire
ACCOMACK, Va. (AP) - An abandoned home is the latest arson target on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
Authorities say the Thursday night fire is believed to be related to a string of arsons in the area. The home in Painter was uninhabitable and overgrown with trees and thick brush.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that another fire on Thursday night near the front steps of a home in Greenbackville was deliberately set but not related to the other arsons.
More than 70 deliberately set fires have occurred on the Eastern Shore since last November. Most of the structures have been abandoned. No injuries have been reported.
A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Pressure on Fire Companies
The fires have put a strain on the volunteer fire companies that have been responding nonstop since mid-November.
Jeff Terwilliger, Director of Public safety in Accomack County, is seeking more volunteer firefighters…to ease the pressure.
WBOC reports that around 20 fire firefighters are sent out to the blazes spending close to 3 hours on the scene.
In the last four and a half months that added up to roughly 37-hundred hours of extra work for firefighters in the county.
Terwilliger says that while the roster for a fire company may be 50…the core members are more like 20-to-25.
Perdue Chicken House Fire
Worcester County Authorities have still not determined what caused a blaze that ran through two Perdue chicken houses.
The fire killed 8-thousand one-to-two week-old chicks.
The Salisbury Daily Times reports that initial reports said that the 15 building complex had lost 6-thousand but has been revised upwards.
The farm is located between Pocomoke City and Snow Hill.
Worcester Fire Marshal Jeff McMahon declined to speculate on any possible cause and the fire is expected to be smoldering for a few more days.
