The Hartford Fire Department is investigating two suspicious fires less than a quarter mile from each other. Both were put out early Saturday morning on South 83 highway.
A Hartford family said they are grateful and lucky. Kathy Feutz said her 82-year-old mother was in her house while it was on fire. A relative just so happened to be driving by at the right time.
"It was traumatic,” she said. “You just go cold when you hear that."
Feutz got a frantic call around 5 a.m. saying her mother's house was ablaze.
"She said the house was on fire and that her brother-in-law John was on his was to work and noticed smoke billowing out of the roof."
He pounded on the front door to wake up the elderly woman.
"You're just not sure what to expect, you don't know how bad it is," said Feutz.
Feutz’s mother evacuated safely, but her beloved pet was stuck inside.
"One of the EMT's who was on her way home stopped and saw what was happening and realized how dedicated and frightened my mom was to lose her cat so she went in and retrieved," she said.
Fire crews soon followed and put out the flames. Less than 100 yards down the street, there a similar scene at the same time at a new apartment complex's garage.
"Suspicious, very suspicious,” said Feutz. “We're just waiting for confirmation."
Given the close proximity and time frame, crews called in State Fire Marshals to help investigate. Despite two gutted garages and van charred down to its springs, Feutz said what matters most is safe and now in their care.
"So we're just so grateful, the timing was perfect," she said.
TODAY’S TMJ4 reached out to Hartford Fire Department to find out if they are investigating the two fires as possible arsons. No one got back to us by the time the story aired.
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