CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — A $5,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the person responsible for setting a vacant house on fire for the second time in Cleveland Heights.
According to the Cleveland Heights Fire Department, just before 7 p.m. on Monday, someone called 911 to report a fire at a vacant house in the 2000 block of Goodnor Road.
Crews knocked down the fire, but flames had already caused extensive damage to the home.
This was the second time in a month that firefighters responded to the same house for a fire— the first time was on March 9.
“Our crews put the fire out without any injuries. There was nobody there. It was a vacant house,” assistant Cleveland Heights Fire Chief Nathan Preuer said of both incidents.
The fire department could not elaborate on details while the investigations unfold but said both fires appear suspicious.
“It’s absolutely very scary and horrifying because fire can spread so quickly,” said Genenne McDougle.
The Cleveland Heights grandmother lives behind the vacant property and reported the first fire on March 9.
“I am concerned that it was on fire and then somebody intentionally set it again,” she said.
Fire investigators said the city is monitoring the property and encourages neighbors to keep watch of activity at vacant homes.
“The more neighborhood awareness there is, the more reporting that there is, the more likelihood that we’re able to stop somebody from either vandalizing a house or setting a house on fire,” said Preuer.
McDougle said the suspected arson is cause for concern, and she plans to keep an eye on her surroundings.
“Very, very disturbing because that means you’ve got a lot of time on your hands," she said. "That means I have to have a heightened awareness of what goes on around me as well.”
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Cleveland Heights Fire Investigation Unit at 216-291-2291.
