Fires deemed suspicious

State fire marshal's office called in

SEATONVILLE — Area firefighters battled separate blazes during a 12-hour period north of Seatonville Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Both fires are currently under investigation by the state fire marshal's office.

Calvin Standley, Malden fire chief, said his department was called to a blaze near the intersection of 1800 North Avenue and 3000 East Street about 9 p.m. Tuesday after a driver on Interstate 80 called in a report.

Standley said the structure, a single outbuilding containing several vehicles and machinery, was already on the ground by the time his department arrived on the scene.

Standley said Wednesday the fire seemed suspicious and notified the state fire marshal's office, which is investigating the fire.

The second fire occurred Wednesday morning, about a mile south of the first fire, in an empty house just north of Seatonville on 3000 East Street. Owner Calvin Gronbach said he had stopped by the property about 8:30 a.m. to check his mole traps when he smelled the smoke and returned home to call the fire department.

“It looks like vandals,” Gronbach said. “They broke the window and tried to kick in the door.”

Gronbach said a table and chairs were stacked on an old hospital bed and mattress and apparently set aflame.

“There’s not too much damage,” Gronbach said. “Just some old stuff. I don’t know if they couldn't find anything in the house and just got mad.”

The Seatonville and Ladd fire departments and the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department responded to the alarm. Chad Errio of the Seatonville Fire Department said Wednesday morning the small fire appeared suspicious in origin, and the state fire marshal had been called.

Both fires remain under investigation.