Arson in Evesham

On Tuesday, March 21st. arson came to Evesham. The day started out benign enough, it was cold, slightly windy and clear, though not sunny. Around the time the school buses were rolling in from Cherokee around 3:00pm the sky become gray with smoke. Within seconds, thick, acrid, black smoke followed. Everyone knew something was terribly wrong. People came from every neighborhood to see what was going on, cars stopped on the road to watch the horrific scene. Helicopters flew above. Something was different, it didn't look real, surreal is a good word. It traveled too quickly and burned too hot. The home owner of the first home called the fire dept. himself from inside the home when it started in the back yard. I'm told he still had his cordless with him outside, he escaped unharmed with his two dogs. Really, how unharmed is he? He lost his wife last year and now every memory, every memento they shared is gone, the house which was their home is a total loss.

Police and fire personnel where on the scene for hours making sure the hot spots were out and no one went near the property. As darkness ascended upon Evesham, up the street an arsonist was watching and waiting. Shortly before 7:00pm the second home was set ablaze. Again, it started in the backyard and quickly traveled up the eaves. An obvious accelerant was used. Flames rushed too fast and too hot to be anything else. This home was extensively damaged and is for insurance purposes, also a total loss.

Let's get to the meat of the story. Two homes, one neighborhood, 3 hours apart. Both homes where number 4, both homes where white with black shutters. Coincidence, not likely. A job gone wrong the first time, with news coverage, corrected at nightfall? Who knows? Someone in the crowd of hundreds is an arsonist. Hopefully, they will be found so Evesham can rest a little easier and Greenlane can fear no more.