House razed by fire; police investigate

South Boston police are investigating an early Saturday morning fire that may have been set intentionally at a vacant residence on North Main Street in South Boston.

According to a report from the South Boston Police Department, firefighters and police were called out to the blaze Saturday morning at 3:05 a.m. at 1907 North Main Street. Firefighters were able to promptly extinguish the flames, but police believe the fire is suspicious in nature. SBPD Detective C. Carswell and Virginia State Police Special Agent R. Ridgeway spent a good part of the day Saturday at the scene investigating a potential cause.

South Boston police said Sunday they plan to release additional information about the investigation today. The home, which fronts North Main near Mason Street, is lined off by police tape.

The fire gutted the back part of the single-story wood frame structure, with debris strewn out in the back yard after the effort to put out the blaze. According to a neighbor who lives on North Main Street, the home had been vacant, except for two homeless people who’ve been seen inside seeking shelter. The neighbor said there was a kerosene heater inside.

Halifax County property records list the owners as Paul and Shirley Miles of Halifax. The home and surrounding tract have an assessed value of $34,047, according to tax records. The Miles were unavailable for comment yesterday, but a family member confirmed that they own the home and it recently has been vacant.

The SBPD urged anyone with any information on the incident to contact Carswell at the South Boston Police Department at (434) 572-4273 or call the Halifax County Crime Line at (434) 476-8445.

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