January 15, 2009 (ROANOKE COUNTY) — Roanoke County Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a structure fire just before 5:30 this morning in the 800 block of Chestnut Street in the Town of Vinton.
When firefighters first arrived they found flames coming from the left side of a single story wood home. Career and volunteer crews from Vinton and Mount Pleasant had the fire under control in about 45 minutes. Fire crews from Roanoke City Fire-EMS also assisted with fire suppression efforts.
The house was vacant with boarded up windows. Firefighters said a family of skunks was seen leaving the house during fire suppression efforts and then returned to the basement after the fire was out.
A neighbor called 9-1-1 to report the fire.
Fire investigators are on scene trying to determine what caused this fire.

Vagrants Cause Early Morning House Fire

January 15, 2009 (ROANOKE COUNTY) – The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s office has determined that vagrants using a warming fire caused a house fire in the 800 block of Chestnut Street early this morning. Investigators say the old, abandoned house, with no working electricity or gas, was being used by vagrants.
The house is a total loss estimated at about $10,000.