It could have been a very large fire that caused damage to neighboring occupied properties on the south end of Wheeling Island, but not only was that catastrophe avoided thanks to the city’s firefighters, but Wheeling police officers also quickly apprehended a suspect now charged with first-degree arson.
According to the press release distributed to media outlets, Jason Kincannon, 24, of Wheeling was taken into custody by police and is charged with first degree arson, and then he was transported to the Northern Regional Jail pending arraignment. According to the city’s report, “Neighbors reported to police they saw a man inside the house leaving moments after the fire started. Police were able to identify the suspect on a home video surveillance and make an arrest.”
“As always, our Wheeling Fire Department showed their commitment toward saving lives and protecting property. The fire department was on the scene within minutes and was able to put out the fire pretty quickly,” said Ward 2 Councilman Ben Seidler. “I haven’t got the official word as to the extent of the damage yet, but it certainly appears that it could have been much worse.
“The men and women with the fire department put it out quickly and safely and protected the neighboring properties to ensure the fire didn’t spread,” he said. “There isn’t much more I can say about these folks other than they exemplify the exact definition of the word excellence in everything they do, and I am thankful that they selflessly put their lives at risk to ensure our safety each and every day.”
Record-Setting Arrest?
Crews with the Wheeling Fire Department remained on the scene until the early morning, and at 11:07 a.m., Philip Stahl, the public information officer for the Wheeling Police Department sent the release revealing Kincanno’s quick arrest.
“Major kudos to our Wheeling Police Department for their incredibly timely response and their thorough detective work. The fact that they were able to not only identify a suspect, but track down and make an arrest so quickly is just another example of the fine men and women that we have dedicated to protecting and serving our community,” Seidler said. “I’m thankful for our WPD and their commitment to keeping our community safe.”
The house on the corner of South Penn and Virginia streets was once, of course, a beautiful home, but city officials expect it to be considered a total loss. The structure, said Seidler, recently had been left vacant for most of 2020.
“It was a beautiful building with an incredible amount of potential,” he said. “It’s been the source of consternation over the years, but with the upcoming rental inspection program that we are working on, there would have been plenty of incentive to fix this property up and make it a beautiful and prime property within our Wheeling Island landscape.”
Cleaning Up the Mess
Seidler has counted the number of vacant buildings on Wheeling Island, as well as the number of structures that are need of demolition. Both the north and south ends possess more vacant lots than anyone alive today can recall, and if Seidler gets his way, there will be even more.
But the city’s annual effort to raze problem properties is citywide, and that is not good news to residents of Wheeling Island.
“There is no question that people are angry, but the saddest part for me is just that it doesn’t really surprise anyone over here in this neighborhood anymore,” Seidler said. “We seem to be so desensitized to the level of crime, blight, and just general lack of pride by so many here, that people had started to give up hope. That has certainly started to change in recent months, and I’m really encouraged by the sheer number of residents who have a renewed sense of pride here, but it’s no secret that Wheeling Island has been neglected for so long that people are just jaded and expect the worst.
“To put that in perspective, in Ward 2 alone, we will likely send out notices that we intend to tow between 60-80 abandoned/junked vehicles over the course of the next few months. Let me say that again. Between 60-80 vehicles,” the councilman added. “You tell me how in the hell we allowed that to happen? I can’t answer that question, but I can tell you these kinds of issues are at the top of my list.”
