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Last updated 11:43 am CT September 02, 2010.
Johnston City Fire Called Arson
It's one of more than half a dozen suspicious fires authorities are investigating in the town.
Friday's fire finished off what was started back in June.
"Here we go again, you just wonder when it's going to end!" says Mayor Ryan Horn.
As Mayor Horn recalls, the June fire on Broadway Street was possibly the biggest in the town's history.
While both the apartment building and a tavern were condemned following the fire, parts were being salvaged; but not anymore.
"I couldn't get over it, I could not believe it, I mean my God when does it end!" says Charlie Sine, owner of The Pub.
Sine's struggling to accept that his business is now truly gone.
"It's devastating, it has really got me depressed" says Sine.
The Ragsdale family is also emotional about the fire; nearly everything they owned was inside.
"We lost our couch, our dishes, our bed, our dresser" say Gary Ragsdale, a former tenant.
The family says after the building was condemned their landlord Jeff Montgomery wouldn't let them back inside.
Montgomery refused to speak to News three but the Ragsdale's are vocal about who they blame for the loss.
"I blame nobody but the landlord, I mean if they would have let me get my stuff when I wanted it, it would have been fine" says Donald Ragsdale, a former tenant.
Fire Captain Carlo Intravaia says there was no reason for the fire to begin since the utilities were turned off.
He says he's thankful none of his crew members were injured when they were surprised by a collapsing wall.
"They were out of the collapse zone but they were stuck by some bricks" says Intravaia.
He says it's high time those responsible for these fires are tracked down.
"Somebody's out there, we just need to catch them" he says.
By: Christen Craig
ccraig@wsiltv.com
Now: 1283451353
