THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 30, 1997 TAG: 9701300354
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KILL DEVIL HILLS LENGTH: 33 lines
A fire that caused severe damage to a Clam Shell Drive residence last week was set intentionally, investigators said Wednesday.
The fire is believed to have started when a vagrant who broke into the home seeking shelter ignited a fire with a candle or some other heat source. The blaze originated in a downstairs bedroom.
``The house had been closed by the property owners for the winter with plywood over the windows,'' said Dare County Fire Marshal Doug Remaley. ``An individual apparently broke in through a window. I've seen a lot of fires where bedding catches on fire by someone using a candle or something else for light.
``The house was definitely torched, no doubt about it.''
Kill Devil Hills police and firefighters are continuing their investigation into the incident.
In two unrelated fires on Roanoke Island, investigators say faulty heat sources were to blame for the mishaps.
On Jan. 20, three privately-owned boats were damaged at Pirate's Cove Marina. The Foxy Lady, the Excalibur and the Sea Jenks caught fire shortly after midnight. Firefighters battled the flames for more than four hours. The three boats were worth an estimated total of about $1.2 million.
Remaley said the fire apparently started aboard the Foxy Lady because of a malfunction in an electric heater aboard the craft.
A third fire that destroyed a Bideford Street home Jan. 20 was caused by sparks from a chimney, Remaley said.
KEYWORDS: FIRE