Uniontown man faces arson charges following Wednesday fires
Uniontown firemen work the scene of a fire at 132 Walnut St., Uniontown, Wednesday morning after fire broke out in the abandoned structure. Hopwood Volunteer Fire Department was called to assist Uniontown with additional manpower. Uniontown Police and Uniontown Firemen's Ambulance were at the scene.
Uniontown firemen work the scene of a fire at 132 Walnut St., Uniontown, Wednesday morning after fire broke out in the abandoned structure. Hopwood Volunteer Fire Department was called to assist Uniontown with additional manpower. Uniontown Police and Uniontown Firemen's Ambulance were at the scene.
Uniontown police have filed multiple charges against a man accused of lighting a house and a garage on fire early Wednesday.
Police Detective Donald M. Gmitter said Harry Kenard Womack, 21, of 103 Lincoln St., Uniontown was charged Wednesday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Michael M. Metros with arson and criminal mischief by fire.
Gmitter said the first fire broke out at 7:44 a.m. at a vacant residence at 132 Walnut St. He said smoke was pouring from the buildin when he arrived.
He said that as city firefighters extinguished the blaze, Fayette County 911 reported a second fire burning nearby.
Gmitter said he responded to 52 Lincoln St., where he found smoke coming from a garage. Firefighters also responded to the second fire and were able to extinguish it.
While interviewing witnesses, several gave a description of a man, later identified as Womack, seen running from the scene.
Gmitter said he was immediately able to locate Womack walking in an alley between Lenox and Walnut streets.
Womack, who reeked of gasoline, denied lighting the fires during questioning with Gmitter but later admitted to other officers that he had been inside the residence on Walnut Street with another man and that man had used gasoline to set the house on fire, Gmitter said.
The origin of the fires are under investigation by state police fire marshal Trooper William Large.
Womack was placed in Fayette County Prison on $25,000 straight cash bond following his arraignment.
A preliminary hearing will be held at a later date before Metros.