Two fires in two days at same home were accidental

Alexis Barker
NLJ Reporter
 
The Wyoming State Fire Marshal’s office and the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation deemed two fires that ravished a portion of a home, located at 111 W. Woodstock St., two nights in a row as accidental in nature, according Robert Munger, chief of Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department. 
“Two separate fires in one home occurred on Monday morning and Tuesday morning,” Munger said. 
The first fire occurred shortly after 4 a.m. on Monday, March 11, according to Munger, and started in the ceiling of a room located in the southeast corner of the home. Some debris had fallen to the floor, but the fire was contained to that room, he said. 
“We were able to extinguish the fire quickly and contain it to the interior of that room,” Munger said. “We checked it out, and everything looked good.” 
At 2:40 a.m. on March 12, the following day, volunteer firefighters received another call to the same residence they had visited less than 24 hours before. 
“This time it was on the exterior of the home in the wall and ceiling of the same southeast corner of the home,” Munger said. “The resident was not home this evening, and the fire spread until a neighbor saw the fire and called.” 
Despite the fire having more time to burn, Munger said, the department was able to contain the fire to that area and limit the damages. 
“There were no injuries associated with either fire,” Munger said. “The first evening the resident of the home was there, but he smelt smoke and called the department when he saw the fire.” 
According to Munger, the resident of the home said that the incident was “sick” and his worst nightmare. 
Investigators from the State Fire Marshall’s office and the DCI came to aid in the investigation of the fire. 
“DCI comes to question the resident and neighbors, while the fire marshal investigates the actual fire,” Munger said. “They have determined the fires were of accidental cause and nothing suspicious occurred surrounding either incident.” 
“Old houses have issues,” Munger said.