Fire Marshal investigates yet another arson attempt

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THIRD ATTEMPT — Another fire was set in a stairwell on the first floor of the boarding house at 7 King Street on Sunday. The State Fire Marshal's Office is currently investigating the fire as arson, along with two other suspected arsons that occured on May 5 at the same address.

NORWAY — One tenant sleeps in his car and others barely sleep, they are so scared.

Three arson attempts at 7 King Street have left residents of the rooming house on edge and afraid for their lives.

The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the third suspected arson which occurred Sunday evening at 7 King Street.

Many of the building's tenants fear that if these arsons continue, they could eventually lose both their home and their lives. Additionally, they are afraid to be identified.

One resident said that she is trying to look for another place to live because she is afraid that someone is going to keep trying to burn the place down.

Does she sleep at night?

"No," she responded, emphatically. After the first two fires occurred, she said, new smoke detectors were installed inside the building.

Another tenant, who was away when the fires were set, said that he was still a little nervous about living in the building.

"I was at my mom's when they happened, but I still know what's going on," he said. When asked if he's able to sleep at night, he said that he can, but he mentioned that another tenant "has been sleeping in his car because he is afraid of what's going on."

He said that, fires aside, the building is not up to code and is dangerous to live in. Tenants said they are in the process of looking for a more affordable and safer place to live. One tenant pays $636 a month for a small room with two beds and two people. Bathroom and kitchen facilities are shared.

After the third arson attempt, investigators are taking a closer look at the suspected arson that occurred on May 5, when someone set a blanket on fire in the back stairwell of the boarding house and then a mattress in the same stairwell just an hour later.

According to Norway Assistant Fire Chief James Tibbetts, the most recent fire was called in at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, the same time the other two fires were set, just a week earlier. Tibbetts reported that the fire involved something burning in the hallway, but this time, in a different stairwell.

He said that the fire had gone out by the time crews arrived on scene, which included 15-20 firefighters from Norway.

Both incidents are being investigated by the State Fire Marshal's Office, the Norway Police Department and the Norway Fire Department.