SHAMOKIN - Charges unrelated to arson are expected to be filed against a tenant who police believe may have provided false reports about the three-alarm fire that heavily damaged an apartment building at Sunbury and Washington streets early Thursday.
The tenant in question is Sabrina Hummel, 27, of 301 E. Sunbury St., city police Patrolman Raymond Siko II, the department's fire investigator, confirmed Friday afternoon.
"I'm here to tell you, right now, the origin and cause are not suspicious," he said. "Arson charges are not expected to be filed."
Siko would not elaborate on what the charges would be or the circumstances surrounding the investigation. He said there were multiple interviews with Hummel and her friends, family and neighbors.
He reserved further comment.
Siko praised the efforts of the fire bureau, chiefs, state police Fire Marshal Norm Fedder, Cpl. Darwin Tobias III, Patrolman Jarrod Scandle and Chief Ed Griffiths in assisting in the investigation.
At her mother's house
Hummel told a News-Item reporter Thursday she was using the washer and dryer and preparing lunch for later in the day at her mother's house nearby on Washington Street and saw the fire while returning home. She said her two sons, 23 months and 3 years old, were with her. Some questioned her story because the fire was reported at 3:19 a.m.
The fire originated from a pan of grease on the stove in the first-floor kitchen near the front entrance and is ruled accidental, Siko had reported Thursday.
The building at 301 E. Sunbury St. was condemned. Siko does not yet have a damage estimate.
The building owner is Jeff Costello, of Mount Carmel. Dave Bango, of Kulpmont, owns 305 E. Sunbury St., which also was damaged in the fire.
Other tenants identified by Tobias and Siko were Aaron Shaffer, Amanda Bentley and a child, who all lived on the second floor of 301 E. Sunbury St. and whose address is actually 803 N. Washington St.; Robert Montefusco, a third-floor resident at 803 E. Sunbury St.; Floyd Ward, 305 E. Sunbury St.; Barbara Spino, 305 E. Sunbury St., and an 8-year-old child.