THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504200269
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
A fire of suspicious origin gutted the interior of an unoccupied
one-story brick and frame house in the 400 block of 21st Street
early Tuesday. Fire fighters were called to the scene at 4:30 a.m.
and found flames leaping from the windows of the building, said
Battalion Chief Chase Sargent, department spokesman. Mop-up
operations were still in progress four hours later and city fire
investigators had cordoned off the area with yellow tape, adorned by
arson signs. The signs offered a reward for information leading to
the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the blaze.
Virginia Beach rescue crew members called to the scene early Tuesday
saw spray-painted messages on the side and front of the house. One
said, ``Don't come back. Up in smoke.'' The other read, ``Buy no
more.'' Neither police nor fire investigators would comment on the
messages or the cause of the blaze, other than to say it is under
investigation.
KEYWORDS: FIRE ARSON GRAFFITI by CNB