Suspicious car fire probed in Lansford

A state police fire marshal is investing a suspicious car fire in Lansford in the wee hours of July 30.

A neighbor saw two young adults/teenagers, a male and female, dressed in black and carrying flashlights, hide behind a porch and vehicle and watch as the car burned in the 300 block of West Kline Avenue, said Officer Chris Ondrus.

The two had been seen coming through yards from Kline Avenue to Abbott Street around the time neighbors heard a loud bang or explosion. The witness said the female told the male to "hurry up."

The incident unfolded when Officer Jeff Ohl was called to Kline Avenue at about 4:15 a.m. to find the car, owned by Bruce Romig of the 300 block of West Kline, fully involved. American Fire Co. No. 1 extinguished the fire and the car was towed. Later that morning, police received two calls from neighbors, including the witness.

When the witness saw the young couple hiding and watching the burning car, she yelled at them, and they ran west on Abbott.

Fire marshal David Klitsch is investigating.