Teen charged in Welland fire

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A 14-year old in now in custody, charged with arson, after a Welland woman and her four children lost almost everything they own in a suspicious fire over the weekend. The family’s rental home was torched while they were in the process of moving to another house.

Firefighters faced thick smoke billowing into the air, and flames shooting through the roof Saturday afternoon when they responded to a call for a house on fire on Southworth Street. Chastity Fairbairn, the woman who rented the house, and her four children weren’t home at the time.

The owner says the Fairbairn family had lived in the house for just over two years, but in the last few months there was a dispute over rent. They were in court just days ago.

“They didn’t pay the last month which was the month of December, and they said they were going to move by December 31st. But if she found a house sooner, she was moving sooner.”

The family had already moved some furniture, but everything else, including their clothes was destroyed in the blaze. Investigators were out there for a third day. They’re waiting for heavy equipment to come in and take down part of the roof.

Meanwhile the 14-year old charged with arson made a court appearance today. There had been speculation that a second teen was involved but police say they are not looking for anyone else.