By Kathy Kunkel

kkunkel@tnonline.com

Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Trooper John Burns has determined the cause of Wednesday morning's fire in Tamaqua. The fire was deliberately set, making it a case of arson.

The question now becomes, who set the fire? Was it the 16-year-old who took advantage of the firefighters' preoccupation to steal more than $10,000 worth of equipment? Or, was it someone else?

While firefighters were involved with putting out the fire, a 16-year-old teen systematically removed equipment from fire trucks staged on Water Street, a narrow alleyway next to the Little Schuylkill River.

The teen took items from the trucks, then placed them in a Jeep, which was parked in the back yard at 225-227 Pine St. The items included radios, radio charging stations, hand tools, flashlights, breathing apparatus and more.

When firefighters became aware of the situation, the 16-year-old and another juvenile fled the scene.

Neighbors were able to direct Tamaqua Police to a nearby apartment house, where they took one male into custody. Police are still searching for the second teen, who was possibly acting as a lookout. Many of the items were recovered, but firefighters need to complete an inventory to make sure nothing is still missing.

The alarm initially sounded at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, directing firefighters to the 300 block of Pine Street. When volunteers arrived, they were quick to spot wisps of smoke coming from a building closer to the Little Schuylkill River. They began positioning equipment on Biddle and Pine Streets, preparing to fight the fire from two directions.

Fire equipment attempting to access the rear and west side of the building by using Water Street had their efforts hampered by an illegally parked vehicle. The car was parked at an angle into the street, making it impossible for the trucks to get through the narrow alley. The car's owner was located and the vehicle was eventually moved, allowing equipment to stage to the rear of the duplex home.

It took firefighters about 10 minutes to snuff out the fire, but traffic on Pine Street, busy Route 309, was rerouted to Schuylkill Avenue for more than an hour by Tamaqua Fire Police. Tractor trailers lined both sides of the street, waiting for the chance to resume their travels, as the side street poses several difficulties for the big rigs.

According to neighbors, the half-double home has been vacant for at least three years. Initial reports from firefighters at the scene note the fire was deliberately set in the second floor hallway. Damage was contained to the hallway and the middle bedroom.

Anyone with information about who may have been inside the home, or about the theft of equipment, is asked to contact Tamaqua Police at 570-668-5000.