Mentally challenged teen charged in Natrona fire

A 17-year-old boy from Harrison has been charged with starting the fire that destroyed or heavily damaged five buildings in Natrona.

Despite the severity of the crime, police said the boy was charged as a juvenile because he has mental problems.

The Sept. 11 fire damaged five buildings on Chestnut and Pond streets, including the former Natrona post office.

No one was hurt, but one man had to flee his apartment.

It also forced the township's tax office to relocate to the rear of 65 Walnut St. The telephone number remains the same.

An Allegheny County fire investigator said the fire started in a vacant, unlocked apartment that didn't have electricity.

Harrison police Detective Floyd "Bucky" Taraszewski found a witness who spotted two young people running from the area. The man recognized one of them, an 18-year-old male.

Taraszewski said the 18-year-old told him that he was a friend of the suspect and that they would frequently "hang out" in the vacant building.

On the night of the fire, the 18-year-old was passing by the building when the suspect ran out. The 18-year-old told police that he ran after his friend.

According to a police report, the 17-year-old boy told him, "I light one match and the place goes boom."

Police said they do not believe the 18-year-old was involved in starting the fire.