Arson blamed in rent house fire

PHOTO BY DAVID LOWE Lampasas Police Department Sgt. Tony Barrio, one of three police officers cross-trained as firefighters, assists the Lampasas Fire Department at a house fire Monday afternoon at 507 N. Ridge St. Arson caused the blaze, which displaced five people from the rental property and killed two dogs and a cat.

Arson severely damaged a one-family rental property at 507 N. Ridge St. Monday afternoon.

The fire, which started in the living room, displaced a family of five, including four children, City Fire Marshal Reece Oestreich said. Lampasas Fire Department received a call about the blaze at 1:28 p.m.

None of the occupants was hurt, although two dogs and a cat died in the fire, Oestreich said. Firefighters rescued one dog from the house.

The suspected arsonist has been turned over to juvenile probation, Oestreich added.

Lampasas Police Department Sgt. Tony Barrio, one of three police officers cross-trained as a firefighter with the North Texas Fire Academy, assisted at the scene. Five local firefighters are certified as police officers, Fire Chief Terry Lindsey added.