A fire broke out at this vacant house on Thompson Street in Uhrichsville on October 23, eight days after a fire at another vacant property in the city. (Photo by Stacey Carmany, Tusco TV)

Uhrichsville, Ohio - City residents are being asked to keep an eye on vacant properties in their neighborhoods following a fire at an unoccupied house, the second in eight days’ time.

The most recent fire occurred just before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday at a vacant house in the 100 block of Thompson Street. Uhrichsville Fire Chief Justin Edwards said a passerby noticed smoke coming from the house and alerted police, who then contacted the fire department. 

Edwards said the department responded to the scene and found the source of the fire to be in what would have been the living room area on the first floor of the two-story, wood-framed structure. Assisting on the scene were the Dennison and New Philadelphia fire departments and Smith Ambulance personnel. 

Edwards said it took about 20 minutes to contain the fire, and crews were on the scene for a total of about two hours. He estimates the fire caused about $10,000 in damage to the property, which is owned by a company based in Dallas, Texas.

Edwards said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. He said the house had been vacant for some time with no utilities connected, however, a neighbor had recently reported seeing someone coming and going from the property.   

He said there is no indication that the fire was related to another fire that broke out on the afternoon of October 13th at a vacant house in the 400 block of West Fourth Street. No one had been living in the house at the time that the fire broke out, although Edwards said it appeared as though somebody had been coming and going. The cause of the fire was ultimately ruled undetermined.

In light of the two fires, the department is asking residents to keep an eye on the vacant properties in their neighborhoods and to report anything suspicious. 

“If they have vacant properties around them, we ask that they be watchful and if they see any suspicious activity, to contact the police department.,” Edwards said.

STACEY CARMANY, TUSCO TV