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2nd Fire Breaks Out At Same House In Just Over A Month

DENVER (CBS4) - Denver fire investigators are trying to figure out what sparked a second fire at the same home in a little over a month.

The fire broke out at the home located in the 1400 block of South Bellaire Street Tuesday morning. The previous fire at the home occurred on Feb. 14. That fire forced the couple who lived there out of the house.

Fire
(credit: CBS)

"All I saw was 'pop, pop, pop' and saw the blue flashes from the power line," neighbor Melissa Daniels said. "It's the same thing I saw about a month ago."

Neighbors called to report flames coming from the home at approximately 6 a.m. The home had been vacant because the previous homeowners lost almost everything after the fire in February.

"We came out the first time and they were standing out in front of their house not knowing what to do," Daniels said.

After the February fire firefighters consoled the homeowners, but now it's also neighbors who need comforting. Daniels says she's been friends with the family that lived there for 10 years, and while they escaped last month's fire with their lives, at least one pet died.

"We just wanted them to be safe, and for them to do this again, you know, it's just not right," Daniels said.

Denver Fire spokesman Mark Watson said Tuesday's fire was strange, but for more reasons than one.

"What made this one kind of unusual is the fact the house and also the shed that were both on fire, fully involved when the crews got here," Watson said. "Also we had a previous fire here back on Feb. 14 and that case is still open."

Now with two open cases for the same home in just nearly a month neighbors hope investigators can finally give them some answers and peace of mind.

The son of the family who lived in the house was in a state of shock that it could happen twice in such a short time. He told CBS4 it definitely seems suspicious.

Watson said in the past four months there have been five suspicious fires within four miles of the home, including a massive apartment fire on Kentucky Avenue. All appear to have been deliberately set. So far there have been no arrests and no suspects.

"We don't know exactly if there's one person or two persons, or whatever that may be, intentionally setting fires in this area," Watsons said.

Daniels said the string of unsolved fires has the neighborhood on alert.

"It is a little concerning. It's right across the street. It could happen to any of us," she said.

As crews look for clues after the string of suspicious fires, investigators admit they're frustrated and concerned.

"Things are unusual in the four-mile area. We've had quite a few fires in the last couple of months. (A serial arsonist) is one of the things investigators are looking at.

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