Walnut Street fire ruled arson; 11 displaced, York fire chief says

May 05--Update 8:37 a.m.

York Fire Chief David Michaels said that, as of now, there is no connection between Monday's fire and an arson in the 300 block of Walnut Street last month.

"We do have some information that we're going to sort through," Michaels said of the investigation into Monday's fire.

In total, 11 residents were displaced from the fire, which swept through seven homes.

"It's a ... shame somebody has to go and do that to your house," Joe Weaver, a Walnut Street resident said of the Arson.

Previously Reported

An afternoon fire in York tore through at least five row homes in the 500 block of Walnut Street on Monday, displacing 11 residents, according to York City Fire/Rescue Services Chief David Michaels.

The fire was set at 506 Walnut Street, which is a vacant home, Michaels said. York City Police will be investigating.

In total, seven homes were damaged, he said. Five sustained significant damage, and two had minor damage.

The blaze caused $200,000 in damage, Michaels said. The American Red Cross is assisting the residents who were displaced.

No one was injured.

It was the second fire on Walnut Street in a week. A fire in the 300 block of the street displaced six people on April 27 when debris in front of the house ignited. Michaels said that fire was ruled arson.

"It doesn't appear that the two are related," Michaels said on Monday evening.

Several residents said they had heard and seen juveniles breaking into 502, 504 and 506 Walnut Street. Michaels said all three homes are vacant.

"It's getting too close to home," said Lynn Walker, 61, who lives nearby at 469 Walnut Street. Kids are inside of them a lot. We called the cops all the time."

Earlier this month, three properties were razed in the 200 block of Walnut Street following a 2013 arson fire.

Firefighters responded to the fire Monday at 1:12 p.m., where they attacked it from outside, using high-intensity hoses, and also battled it inside. About two hours later, the fire appeared to be extinguished.

Mary Shepp, 76, who lives across Walnut Street where the fire started, said she believed 506 Walnut had been vacant for the better part of a decade.

"I always said it would catch fire someday," she said. "I was scared of this."

Another resident, Linda Weaver, 57, said she was watching TV with her daughter when they heard an emergency vehicle outside.

"I jumped out of my seat and said, 'Something's going on,'" she said. "I opened the door (and) the heat about knocked me backwards."

Also at the fire were Angela Ferrer, who said she was managing 506 Walnut for owner Kellis Thomas, and Ferrer's uncle, Raymond Ferrer, who said he owns 500, 502 and 508 Walnut.

"Who did this? Why?" Angela Ferrer asked.

She said she had heard talk on the street of recent break-ins to 506 Walnut, but wasn't able to figure out how it happened, saying the property was secure.

"I'm sick right now," she said. "I'm stunned."

Raymond Ferrer said he too, was very angry and frustrated.

"My insurance, I don't have that much to cover it," he said. "The tenants (in 508 Walnut St.) kept telling me, there's people going in through the back (at 506 Walnut) I told them, call the cops, I can't do anything."

Ferrer added that he was relieved 500 Walnut seemed unscathed by the fire. He thought the narrow breezeway between it and 502 may have prevented the fire from spreading.

Many row homes in York have shared attics, which contribute to the spreading of fires.

The idea was not lost on Z"The way these houses are set up, one goes, you lose a bunch of them," said 24-year-old Zach Duke, who lives on Albermarle Street.

Contact Ted Czech at 717-771-2033.

Videos: Walnut Street fire May 4.

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