Fire at vacant Greensburg home considered arson, chief says

Greensburg police have arrested a city man in connection with an arson early Monday morning of a vacant house, police said.

The suspect, Brian Valore, 33, of Greensburg, was being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on Monday on arson and arson-related charges in connection with the fire at 526 and 528 Euclid Ave., police said.

Valore will be arraigned Tuesday before Greensburg District Judge Chris Flanigan, police said.

The fire started underneath the rear porch of the vacant two-story house and damaged the rear exterior of the house, from the foundation to the eaves of the roof, said Greensburg Fire Chief Tom Bell. Firefighters were able to stop the blaze before it reached the interior of the house, Bell said.

Firefighters received the alarm at 3:52 a.m. and remained on the scene until about 6 a.m., Bell said.

The house was marked with a scarlet X, indicating that is part of Greensburg’s initiative to alert firefighters that a building is vacant and considered blighted, so they should proceed with caution.

A neighbor, Rachel Jennings of 530 Euclid Ave., said the house has been abandoned for at least a few years. Someone had previously set the house on fire, Jennings said. She said the front door of the house had previously been kicked in and subsequently was covered with a piece of plywood.

Information on the owner was not available Monday.

Greensburg firefighters were assisted by units from South Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg.

City officials were not available for comment Monday on whether Greensburg would take step to have the abandoned house demolished.