07/14/2008 8:57 PM ET
DELMAR, Del.- Investigators are probing another one of several recent arson fires to hit the Delmar-Laurel area. Firefighters arrived on Old Stage Road in Delmar at around 1:26 a.m. Monday to find a vacant house fully engulfed in flames.
Very little remains, but it is enough for investigators to determine the fire was intentionally set.
The Smith family owned the property for 20 years but say nobody has lived here for the last two.
Property owner Christine Smith said, "It's really sad when you've lived in a place so long and come to see its just gone there is nothing left and you know you've had children born here. Its a shame."
Seven-year-old Kaylee Smith was born where rubble now remains. She said, "It's sad to see all of this because it's all burnt down. There is nothing else to see."
The Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office says this blaze was the latest in a spree of nine arsons in the area, and vacant homes appear to be the target.
"Theres a couple houses right on this road that nobody is living in and they are probably targets," said Christine Smith. She said her family will not rebuild.
"There is a lot of memories here and im glad we got pictures and I'm glad the pictures were not in here," Smith said as she pointed to the damage.
Smith said she was happy nobody was inside.
No suspects have been identified in the string of arsons. Other arsons under investigation include the following:
- May 24: 8000 block of Woodland Ferry Road;
- May 24: 31000 block of Gordy Road (garage only);
- May 24: 12000 block of Chipmans Pond Road;
- May 25: 8800 block of Sharptown Road;
- June 1: Jackson Road near Horsey Church Road;
- June 2: 34000 Saint Georges Road;
Anyone with information about any of the above fires should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333 or the Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office at (302) 856-5600.
