Matt Coon, deputy Jamestown fire chief, told City Council members on Monday that the fire was likely intentionally set. According to an incident report from the Jamestown Fire Department, firefighters arrived on the scene at 5:05 a.m. Friday to find heavy fire on the back side of the structure from the ground to the attic of a 2.5 story abandoned house. Fire extended into the basement and the first floor. The fire also prompted a two-hour delay at nearby Love Elementary School.

“Our most recent fire that we had on Spring Street on Friday is something that we believe was incendiary, something that was intentionally set,” Coon said. “I can’t update you on suspects or anything like that at this time but they did burn the structure to the point that we weren’t able to fight the fire from the inside, it had to be fought from the outside. This resulted in a lot of structural compromise. That one was an emergency demo. We’re still chasing leads on that and our cause remains under investigation at this time.”

Homes on either side of 813 Spring St. were evacuated. Two fire engines and a ladder truck responded, comprising 10 firefighters. Two 2.5-inch lines were used to fight the fire and keep the fire from spreading to neighboring homes while the ladder truck used an elevated master stream to knock down the fire in the attic.

“JFD always does an absolutely outstanding job of keeping other homes nearby safe and making sure fires aren’t jumping,” said Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large and Public Safety Committee chairman.

Matt Coon, Jamestown deputy fire chief, speaks during Monday’s meeting of the City Council. Mayor Kim Ecklund and Tony Dolce, R-Ward 2 and council president, are pictured listening to the report.

Coon also updated the council on the department’s investigation of a fire at 131 Forest Ave. on April 20. The fire tore through the structure, located next to the United Church of Christ between McKinley Avenue and Lilac Lane.

Flames could be seen coming from the top of the structure, which eventually collapsed. The property was supposed to be vacant – but Coon said that likely wasn’t the case.

“Up on Forest Avenue, we had one a couple of weeks ago up there,” Coon said. “Unfortunately that structure was already compromised by the time the fire began. We do suspect there were some unoccupied occupants inside of that residence. It wasn’t currently habitable by the property owner. So unfortunately with that one it was compromised in the fire and that one too was demolished.”

This drone photo shows firefighters battling a fire at 131 Forest Ave. on April 20. Matt Coon, city deputy fire chief, told City Council members this week the fire was likely started by people who weren’t supposed to be inside the home which was supposed to be vacant at the time the fire started.