Couple's New Home Burns To Ground As Deed Is Signed

MEYERSDALE, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania couple who bought a neighboring vacant house because they feared it was a fire hazard was right: It caught fire while they were at the county courthouse signing the deed.

The (Somerset) Daily American (http://bit.ly/1KOm9FS ) reports that Bradley and Penny Mason bought the house in Meyersdale intending to tear it down. It's located just feet from their home about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

A neighbor called 911 to report the fire at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, and fire officials have determined the origin was suspicious. The fire marshal is still investigating the cause.

Penny Mason tells the newspaper the home has "been sitting empty for a couple years. We didn't even know about the fire until the fire department was called."

The first-floor fire was quickly extinguished.