House fire in Harmar being investigated as possible arson, no injuries reported

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office will investigate whether a fire that broke out in a two-story home in Harmar on Tuesday afternoon was set intentionally by a tenant who was being evicted, authorities said.

Multiple departments responded to the fire reported at 12:30 p.m. in the 2500 block of Wenzel Drive, according to a 911 supervisor. He said no injuries were reported. Wenzel is a dead-end road that sits along the banks of the Allegheny River.

The brick house was split into apartment units, according to the owners, who declined to give their names.

The couple said they told police that the fire was reported by a constable they contacted to evict a woman who lived on the first floor.

A Harmar police officer confirmed that the county fire marshal was called to the scene to determine how the fire started and whether it was set on purpose.

The name of the woman suspected of starting the fire was not released. Police said she fled from the home, and they were working to locate her.

Rhonda Alston, who lives in the second-floor apartment, said she was at work when she learned about the fire and came home to find firefighters working to extinguish the blaze.

“I’m sure everything I own is probably gone now,” she said.

Wilson said she has insurance to cover the losses but lamented the possible loss of things such as photographs and other mementos.

A family member created a GoFundMe page to help Alston.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the bulk of the flames quickly but remained on the scene for several hours to vent smoke from the roof and windows, douse flare-ups and toss scorched furnishings out of the building to keep the fire from reigniting.