Arson investigation after blaze damages property in Chillicothe

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Authorities are investigating a fire that caused damage to a fence and other items in an alleyway between East Fifth and East Fourth Streets on July 28.

At approximately 5:16 a.m., emergency services responded to a report of a fire in the alley. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a witness who had discovered the blaze while walking through the alley. The witness, who did not have a phone, asked a nearby resident to call 911. The witness also noted seeing two individuals on bicycles in the vicinity but was unsure if they were connected to the fire.

The Chillicothe Fire Department extinguished the fire, which had consumed a section of wood panel fence, a City of Chillicothe recycling bin, and a trashcan located outside the fence.

The property owner of 59 E. Fifth Street was contacted and was unaware of the fire. The property owner reported previous incidents of criminal mischief in the alley but did not have any security cameras that might have captured the incident. A search of the area for additional cameras yielded no results.

Photos of the damage were taken, and both a police report and a fire department report will be filed. At this time, there are no leads or additional information available regarding the fire. The investigation is ongoing.