Around 5:45pm Tuesday, emergency personnel were dispatched to 66 3rd Street, Oneida, for a working house fire.
Upon arrival, the fire was upgraded to a 2nd alarm due to the home being the middle of a three row homes and the additional manpower was needed.
At the 20 minute par check, the fire was reported as under control but not before damaging three homes and displacing 3 families including 8 people.
Assisting the Oneida Fire Department were firefighters from Nuremberg-Weston, Ringtown Valley, Hazle Twp., Harwood, Hazleton City, Mahanoy City (West End, Citizens, Good American), Shenandoah (Rescue Hook & Ladder, Polish American), Sugarloaf and Englewood.
LVHN EMS stood-by on the scene.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville, after an investigation by Trooper Shawn Tray, it was found that Dennis Antonelli, 39, of Sheppton became involved in an argument with his girlfriend at 66 3rd Street which lead to him igniting papers on fire in a bedroom. The fire put 5 people who were home at the time of the fire in danger.
Antonelli has been charged with felony arson and criminal mischief and misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person.
He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50,000 (10%) cash bail.