Princeton fire in empty home investigated

PRINCETON — The state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire of suspicious origin that damaged a vacant house on Lakeside Place.

The house is owned by Lorraine Beal. It is about a mile from the downtown area and has been vacant since October.

Princeton Fire Chief Donald Bailey said that at around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, Beal, who lives next door to the house, heard a loud bang.

“She looked out and saw flames shooting out the windows,” Bailey said. He said she grabbed her portable telephone, moved her vehicle away from the house and called the Fire Department.

Bailey said he was returning from work at the Georgia-Pacific Corp. mill in Baileyville when he saw a bright glow in the sky over downtown Princeton.

Although the house was in flames, Bailey said, firefighters were able to save most of the structure. He said the roof was burned and the rest of the house had water and smoke damage. He said the structure was insured.

The Indian Township and Grand Lake Stream fire departments assisted Princeton firefighters at the scene. Bailey said about 22 firefighters were at the scene for more than two hours.