Police Suspect Arson in Two Fires

Arson is suspected in two fires that occurred within 20 minutes of each other on two properties that are about 300 yards apart, reported this week.

The first fire took place at an apartment building at 7A Amana Drive, and the second fire began in the rear of a vacant home at 2 Day St.

The Amana Drive resident told police that at about 8:45 p.m., she was sitting on her couch watching TV when she smelled smoke. She discovered that the smoke was coming from a fire that had ben set to a baby carriage just outside her sliding glass door.

A neighbor extinguished the fire by filling a large container with water and pouring the water on it, according to Ptlm. Derek Parascondolo's report.

The blaze damaged the wood frame of the apartment's sliding glass door and blackened the outside of the building.

State Fire Marshall David Scott and Johnston Fire Department Assistant Chief David McDougall responded to the scene to investigate, Parascandolo noted.

Johnston firefighters responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a fire at 2 Day Street, just a few hundred yards away, at 9:05 p.m. on Sunday.

Ptlm. Matthew Leveillee reported that the fire damaged the center and rear of the bank-owned property.

A witness told Leveillee that he was outside at 8:24 pm making a phone call and did not see smoke or fire at that time. At 9:05 pm, the witness said, he saw smoke coming from the home and called 9-1-1.

Leveillee noted that the fire to the baby carriage carries a felony first-degree arson charge, and the house fire carries a felony charge of second-degree arson.

If you have information on these incidents, call the Johnston Police Department at (401) 231-4980.