ASHLAND —
A vacant house on Belmont Street caught fire Monday for the second time in six months. The first fire was ruled arson, and firefighters suspect the most recent one may have also been intentionally set.
According to Ashland Fire Department reports, a fire at 1808 Belmont St. was reported just before 3 a.m. When firefighters arrived, it was fully involved with flames showing on three sides of the house.
Chief Scott Penick said firefighters did not mount an aggressive interior attack against the blaze because the home was known to be abandoned and had been “closed up” because of the previous fire.
“From the beginning, we went into a defensive operation,” he said.
Firefighters cleared the scene just after 5:30 a.m.
Penick said the cause of the fire has not been determined and remains under investigation, but added, “I would say with no gas or electric the cause would be suspicious, yes.” He said staff on duty at the time of the incident did alert the Ashland Police Department, which is investigating.
The APD did not immediately return calls seeking comment on Monday.
The first fire at 1808 Belmont Street was on May 16, and was ruled arson by the APD. That blaze was set using a “slow-burning accelerant,” according to the police report.
The home had been condemned by city officials and has reportedly been vacant for some time. According to the Boyd County Property Valuation Administration, the home is owned by Beecher and Doria Wellman.
According to the Boyd County Clerk’s Office, there are three years worth of unpaid property taxes on the structure, which have been sold to three different third party collectors.
Officials familiar with the house say Beecher Wellman is deceased.
Mike Miller, Ashland’s director of Planning and Community Development, said he was familiar with the home and its history. Those like structures at 1808 Belmont that have massive and reoccurring issues typically do move to the front of the list for demolition, he said.
“We only have so much money per year. We try to take the ones that are the most in need of demolition,” Miller said.
Unlike neighboring Huntington, Ashland has not experienced a large number of suspicious structure fires at vacant homes, according to Penick.
CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.
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