web1_markciavarella10.jpg

How big of a payday will Powell get?

web1_portraits02.jpg

Shawnee Fort Chapter DAR receives presentation on local history

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Although officials would not say what caused a fire in a West Union Street apartment building Saturday night, several residents of the complex said the blaze was set.</p><p>Later in the evening Kingston police said they made an arrest in connection with the fire, but refused to release any other details.</p><p>Bennett Bowdone, 30, said he noticed a gentleman acting strange and bleeding near the apartment building before the fire. Bowdone, who lives in the building, said he and his girlfriend went to get food and came back to the fire.</p><p>&#8220;I left to go to the store and I was walking with my girlfriend who said the guy was out swinging his fists, and we just kept walking,&#8221; said Bowdone. &#8220;I figured when I got home I would have to deal with him, more or less. My girlfriend earlier called the police on him, but when we came back the house was on fire. I don&#8217;t know if he did it intentionally, or not.&#8221;</p><p>Local responders included the Hanover Township Fire Department, Kingston police, the Kingston/Forty Forty Fire Department and Edwardsville police.</p><p>Calls came in around 6:45 p.m. to the report of flames coming from the apartment&#8217;s basement, but Guido said firefighters doused the flames before they could penetrate the first floor.</p><p>According to Kingston/Forty Fort Fire Chief Frank Guido, 10 residents live in the building and there was one visitor in the building as well. Not all 10 tenants were home at the time of the blaze, and there were no casualties.</p><p>One family was missing a cat. Firefighters were unable to find it.</p><p>Guido said there is smoke damage to the building, but it is salvageable. The tenants will not be able to live in it for an unspecified numbers of days.</p><p>The American Red Cross is providing the residents with lodging, food and clothing.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116Fire1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Steven Gustin, 38, holds his cat that was rescued from a fire on West Union Street in Kingston, while his wife, Stacey, makes a phone call. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116Fire1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Steven Gustin, 38, holds his cat that was rescued from a fire on West Union Street in Kingston, while his wife, Stacey, makes a phone call. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116Fire2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Stacey Gustin, resident of a apartment building that was site of a fire Saturday, talks to a Kingston police officer. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116Fire2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Stacey Gustin, resident of a apartment building that was site of a fire Saturday, talks to a Kingston police officer. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116Fire4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Firemen work to extinguish a fire at 89 West Union St. in Kingston on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116Fire4-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Firemen work to extinguish a fire at 89 West Union St. in Kingston on Saturday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116Fire3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Firemen break the windows to the top floor of 89 West Union St. in Kingston on Saturday while fighting a fire. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116Fire3-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Firemen break the windows to the top floor of 89 West Union St. in Kingston on Saturday while fighting a fire. </caption3><photoCredit3>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Police make arrest in connection to blaze</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jimmy Fisher</p><p>jfisher@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Firefighters battle blaze in Kingston; tenants will occupy building again