Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Two incidents were reported Sunday night that involved fires being started in places that could possibly endanger the safety of others.

At 8:04 p.m. Sunday, police were called to Homewood Avenue on the South Side for fire damage near a home. A resident of the area reported that he or she was driving past a home on Homewood and saw fire coming from the back of a house.

He or she got out of the car and used a beverage to put out the fire. He or she also stomped on the remaining flames and separated pieces of wood.

Officers approached the owner of the property where the fire occurred. The person said the previous tenant was angry about being evicted and had previous confrontations with the former tenant. The owner reported seeing the former tenant in the area around the time of the fire, which did little damage.

The fire was started in a pile of scrap wood near the back of a home. The fire left charred wood, the report states.

Another person said he or she sees a person walking around in the area, especially at night. He or she was extremely concerned that the person could start a fire that would spread and endanger at least one other home.

EAST SIDE

Meanwhile, officers were sent to Eastview Avenue on the East Side for an arson report at 8:29 p.m. Sunday. An officer met with a “direct care” staff member, who said a resident went into a room at the facility with a lighter and started to burn paper. Officers went into the room and saw the burnt paper on the floor, a report states.

Officers were told this was not the first time this person had done something like this, the report states.

Something similar happened two weeks ago, and the person was taken to Akron Children’s for an “evaluation.” The person had two lighters on him or her and both were retrieved by staff.

When an officer asked how the person got the lighters, the officer was told that “many of the kids run away from the facility, bring back contraband and hide them in their “private parts.”

There was no “structural damage done to the building, and firefighters gave the OK for residents to return,” the report states.