UPDATE: Crews battle two house fires in Roanoke late Friday

by: WFXRtv.com Digital Desk

Posted: Dec 7, 2019 / 08:07 AM EST / Updated: Dec 8, 2019 / 01:43 AM EST

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — Two fires reported within eight minutes of each other kept crews busy in Roanoke Friday night, Dec. 6.

The first fire was reported at 10:01 p.m., according to Roanoke Fire-EMS. It was in the 3400 block of Bennett Drive Northwest and believed to be “incendiary,” the department tweeted.

Update: The cause of the Bennett Dr NW fire was incendiary and is currently under investigation by @rpdsafercity.

The two fires are not believed to be related to each other or other fires within the area. #RoanokeFireEMS
— Roanoke Fire-EMS (@RoanokeFireEMS) December 7, 2019

Roanoke Fire-EMS said there were no injuries at the Bennett Drive fire.

The second fire was reported at 10:09 p.m. in the 700 block of Bullitt Avenue Southeast.

“First arriving units found heavy flames and smoke,” the fire department tweeted. “No injuries were reported.”

At 10:09pm, Roanoke Fire-EMS responded to a working fire in the 700 block of Bullitt Ave SE. First arriving units found heavy flames and smoke. No injuries were reported. The fire is still under investigation. (Pictured) pic.twitter.com/34ZZiLVzq6
— Roanoke Fire-EMS (@RoanokeFireEMS) December 7, 2019

The Bullitt Avenue fire “was accidental and due to improper use of a cooking appliance,” Roanoke Fire-EMS said this morning, adding that the home is believed to have been vacant but its investigation revealed “unauthorized occupants in the home.”

The two fires are not believed to be connected to each other or other fires in the area, the fire department said.