ETNA, PA — County Police have charged a local resident following a destructive fire in Etna. On Monday at 11:42 AM, emergency services were called to 86 Vilsack Street after reports of a fire.
The Etna Volunteer Fire Department, supported by various mutual aid teams, found the property engulfed in flames which were spreading to adjacent buildings. An explosion in a nearby garage during the firefighting efforts resulted in debris striking a fire engine. One local was treated for minor injuries, and a firefighter suffered from heat exhaustion due to the incident.
The Allegheny County Police Department’s General Investigations Unit, along with the Fire Marshal’s Office, launched an investigation into the blaze. Their inquiry led them to discover evidence pointing to arson. Further investigations and interviews indicated that 74-year-old Elmer Lewis, a resident of the address, deliberately set the fire.
Lewis is now facing several charges including arson, causing or risking catastrophe, and criminal mischief. He has been taken to the Allegheny County Jail to await his preliminary arraignment.