BY MARCI LAEHR TENUTA
Journal Times | Posted: Friday, May 23, 2008 12:00 am
RACINE - A small fire on the exterior of a two-family home Thursday night was the result of attempted arson, authorties said Friday.
Racine firefighters and police were called to the fire, which was set on the south wall of a home at 1314 Center St. just before 9:30 p.m.
Firefighters extinguished the fire quickly, and said it did not cause much damage. However, the cause of the fire was then determined to be attempted arson.
Racine police were told that just prior to the fire being discovered, a woman was seen outside the two-family home.
The resident of the lower unit of the house told officers the woman was walking all around the house, throwing rocks at the windows of the upper unit in an attempt to get the attention of the second-floor tenant. Reports said at some point the resident of the upper unit yelled down to the woman to stop throwing rocks.
A few minutes later the resident of the first-floor apartment heard a knock at his door. He assumed it was the woman, and didn't answer. Police reports said it was actually a neighbor at the door attempting to alert the man to the fire.
Police said the fire began just minutes after the rock-throwing incident. It was set by lighting tar paper sticking out from a newly installed window, reports said.
As of Friday afternoon, no one had been arrested for starting the fire.