On Sunday, June 12 at approximately 4:30 a.m, Walworth homeowner Larry Allen and his wife Sharon were asleep in their upstairs bedroom. Larry explained that he was awoken by a sound, which he later realized was the sound of siding and shingles crackling from a fire. He also noticed, as he awoke, that it seemed brighter than usual outside. He thought it might be the new outside light he had installed over his porch, but looking out the 2nd floor window, he saw flames reaching from the back deck up to the roof.
Waking his wife and rushing down the stairs, he dialed 911 they ran out the front door. Larry stated that he tried to hose the fire down with his garden hose, which he doesn’t think helped at all. He did notice that the part of the deck that was not shooting flames, had fire on its surface, which appeared as if it was burning off an accelerant.
The fire brought back to mind an incident at the same home on Autumn Wood Drive in late May. State Police out of Williamson reported the same resident had found an unlit Molotov cocktail (a bottle filled with accelerant and a wick) in his backyard. Police canvassed the area and asked the public for assistance in the case.
“It was because of that incident that police suggested I put up the light on the back deck,” said Larry. He noted that he had been apprehensive since that incident.
The Allens had purchased their home just three years ago in that Gananda development. He had put in all new carpeting, drywall, paint, new furniture, and very extensive landscaping in the yard. Last year they also put in a new roof.
The back deck was a total loss, the siding and shingles were melted in the back, side and under the eaves in the front. It is not inhabitable at this time, and the Allens are staying with family, while temporary housing is found for them. Larry was told that it could take six to nine months before repairs and rebuilding can be completed.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s office is asking that anyone with information on this fire, to call 946-9711.
Allen feels that his house was targeted by someone who mistook the home for that of another individual. “I think this was a case of mistaken identity, Allen surmised.
He also commented: “We did not really know some of our neighbors well, but we have met many of them now because of this, and they have been wonderful and caring.”
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