Shortly after units arrived back in station and were in the process of cleaning up from an earlier fire in Shamokin, Mount Carmel Fire department was alerted to a working fire in the borough at 34 west 5th.

Quickly a working fire was confirmed with fire showing from the Charlie and delta sides and a 2nd alarm was eventually struck brining in more man power to fight the blaze.

The houses were vacant and recently bought with the hopes of renovation and than being used to rent out.

Pennsylvania state police fire marshals Jim Nizinski and Nathan Birth investigated the fire and stated the fire was suspicious but a cause couldn’t be determined definitively due to damage in the area of origin.