Raging fire tears through Stowe Township apartment building, resident believes it was arson

STOWE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A raging fire tore through an apartment building on Broadway Avenue in Stowe Township on Tuesday night.

The flames broke out just after 6 p.m.

“Within a minute or two, they engulfed the whole building,” said neighbor Eric Dalton.

Firefighters quickly got the fire under control, but Chief Matt Chapman says residents in at least three or four apartments are displaced.

“I was so upset because me and my girl lost everything,” said James Clark. He is one of those residents.

In fact, Clark is accusing his cousin of intentionally setting his and his girlfriend’s apartment on fire while he was at work.

Clark says they just told her she couldn’t stay with them anymore.

“My cousin burned my house on fire,” Clark said. “I told her she had to go and everything. She got mad because she didn’t want to leave.”

Chapman could not confirm if the fire is being investigated as arson.

“I know the fire marshal’s on scene and he is doing the investigation,” the fire chief said.

Clark claimed his cousin ran from the apartment and caught the bus.

He wants her to come forward and talk to investigators.

“Fess up and turn yourself in because the cops are looking for you,” Clark said.

Chapman says a firefighter was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but is OK.

A resident went to the hospital, and Clark says it was his girlfriend, who also was having difficulty breathing because of the smoke.

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