A 3rd Street home burst into flames while officers were on the scene investigating a burglary. It all started around 9 pm when a man asked officers to meet him at the home to report a burglary.
The man told officers that the home was boarded up, so he’d taken down boards to go inside, turned on the lights, and noticed that the house was ransacked. He told police he formerly lived at the home but had been staying in a crisis house.
While officers were speaking with the man outside the residence, the house suddenly and without warning went up in flames. Police evacuated residents of nearby homes and called in the Portsmouth Fire Department.
Officers also notified AEP and Columbia Gas to shut off the utilities.
Multiple fire units responded to fight the flames.
During this very odd and dangerous event, no injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
