The last couple of months in Victoria Roland’s life have been anything but peaceful.
A fire last week at her 12th Avenue North home displaced Roland, her boyfriend and their three children. That incident followed break-ins to her vehicle and her home.
Now, Columbus Fire and Rescue officials suspect the house fire was arson.
The fire broke out at about 10:20 p.m. Oct. 26 while no one was home.
Roland’s family was at her sister’s home the night of the fire when Roland’s mother texted her, telling her fire engines were heading toward her home.
“I was … in shock,” Roland said. “It was the only place we had.”
Still, she said she’s grateful no one was home and that no one was hurt.
After putting out the flames, firefighters found a blue kerosene can containing gasoline on the couch inside the house, CFR Public Information Officer Anthony Colom said. Neighbors reported hearing a loud explosion before the fire started, according to a CFR press release.
The fire department released a statement on Wednesday publicly acknowledging the arson investigation.
Roland and her boyfriend Patrick Harrison had been renting the home since April. In the weeks leading up to the fire, problems arose.
About a month before the fire, Roland’s car was broken into and her credit card and other items stolen. Not long before that, the house itself had been broken into, and someone stole small things from the residence — like TV stands, comforters and pictures, she and Harrison said.
“It was petty stuff,” Harrison said. “I don’t understand why they were doing it.”
Someone has even unscrewed the motion light beside their home, Harrison said. He’s asked around the neighborhood and no one else seems to be having problems with break-ins or vandalism. He and Roland say they “have no clue” who could be doing it, but they’re extremely worried about it.
“Who’s been doing all this?” Harrison said. “Is it the same person or is it random? Are they just looking at the house as a random pick?”
They’re even worried that whoever is breaking in may find out where they’re staying now and come back. They have reported the break-ins to the Columbus Police Department and, on the night of the fire, the CFR.
That night, Roland, Harrison and their children stayed in a shelter set up by the CFR and the Columbus Housing Authority. They are now staying with Harrison’s sister while waiting on temporary government housing from the Housing Authority.
The Red Cross will take donations of children’s clothes for the family at 17 Airline Road from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The clothing sizes needed are 3T and 4T and size 9 shoes for a girl and sizes 4T, 5T and 6-9 months for boys.
Colom has asked anyone with information on the fire or who saw someone carrying a blue kerosene can in the area on Oct. 26 to call the Deputy Fire Marshal at 242-2191 or the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-5171.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
