9 fires in western Massachusetts leave 2 dead

[December 28, 2009]  NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) -- Authorities say nine fires that left two people dead in a western Massachusetts town are "suspicious" and they're treating them as potential crimes.

Federal, state and local fire and police investigators are trying to determine what caused the fires, which local District Attorney Elizabeth D. Scheibel says are suspicious.

Scheibel says the fires broke out in the downtown area of Northampton, Mass., between 2 a.m. and 3:15 a.m. Sunday. She says five fires were in buildings and the rest in cars.

The two victims were found on the first floor of a house that was engulfed in fire. Police have not identified them, but state property records list Paul Yeskie Jr. as the house's owner.

[Associated Press]

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