Monessen blaze ruled arson

Sept. 16--An early morning blaze that forced a Monessen family to flee their home Wednesday morning has been ruled arson.

Dozens of firefighters were called to the 1200 block of McMahon Avenue 6:03 a.m. where flames and smoke were pouring from two homes.

Monessen Municipal Fire Chief Chris Rhome said the blaze began on the first floor at a vacant house at 1213 McMahon Ave. Rhome said the fire gutted the two-story aluminum-sided house. Rhome said state police fire marshal Craig Soltis investigated and ruled the fire arson.

The fire spread to the house next door at 1209 McMahon Ave. Rhome said firefighters had to cut through the roof of the 1 1/2 story house, as the blaze spread into the attic.

"We were able to get the fire under control at the vacant house but it moved quickly next door," Rhome said. "It got away from us pretty fast and ran (through) the roof."

Don Caterino, who lives at the home with his wife, Kristie, and their three children, said he was on his way to work when he learned their home was on fire.

"My wife called me and said the house was on fire, but everyone was out and safe," Caterino said. The family has been living at the home for about 11 years and has renter's insurance, he said.

Caterino said his wife was awakened after she smelled smoke filling the house. She quickly woke their children, Tyler, 16, Sydney, 13, and Lacey, 10, and escaped unharmed with their pet dog. Caterino said his son, Tyler, uses the attic as his bedroom.

"He (Tyler) was mostly worried about saving his collection of authentic soccer shirts," Caterino said. He was able to save the shirts, but the rest of the home sustained smoke and water damage.

"The most important thing is my family is OK," Caterino said, adding his family will be staying with relatives. "Everything else can be replaced."

The home's owner, Claudette Fleming of Donora, said she'd be calling her insurance company to seek an estimate on the damage.

A house at 1207 McMahon Ave. sustained exterior damage, Rhome said.

Both Monessen fire companies responded to the scene and were assisted by firefighters from Carroll, Lock Four and North Belle Vernon. Belle Vernon and Rostraver No. 1 (Webster) firefighters were on standby.

Stacy Wolford is a staff writer at Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-684-2640 or swolford@tribweb.com.

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