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Vacant home collapses after 6th undetermined fire in Petersburg since July

Posted at 1:26 PM, Sep 14, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-14 17:19:12-04

PETERSBURG, Va. -- An investigation is underway after a Petersburg home burned to the ground in what is being caused an “undetermined fire” early Friday morning.

Fire crews responded to the home near the intersection of Harding and Halifax Streets at 4:12 a.m. The vacant home collapsed during the blaze and was marked under control at 5:55 p.m.

No injuries were reported.

The Friday morning fire is the sixth vacant house fire in the city since July 30, 2018. Investigators say the cause of all six fires is undetermined. Some of the fires have been ruled arson.

  1. July 30 -- 618 W. Washington
  2. Aug. 14 -- 610 W. Washington
  3. Aug. 17 -- 20 Pine Street
  4. Sept. 1 -- 825 W. Washington
  5. Sept. 6 -- 636 W. Washington

Something local business owner, Raymond Crockett says, is a real problem

“I’m very upset about this,” he said.  “I’ve been in this city for 40 something years, I’ve had a business in this city for over 33 years.

“We’ve been having problems in the City of Petersburg for the last three or four months that from Washington to Pine Street, now were over here on Harding Street,” he added.

The Petersburg Department of Fire, Petersburg Bureau of Police and an outside investigating team are forming a task force to focus on this string of fires and get to the bottom of what’s going on.

“We have to stop this… this is a community effort. It’s not right for this to be happening to our City of Petersburg,” said Crockett. “We have too much invested in our city and we can do better.”

Friday's fire remains under investigation and has not yet been ruled arson.

Depend on WTVR.com and CBS 6 News for complete coverage of this important local story. This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can submit a news tip here.

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