'Fire hazard' home burns as couple signs deed to buy it

MEYERSDALE, Pa. -- A western Pennsylvania couple who bought a neighboring vacant house because they feared it was a fire hazard was right: It caught fire while they were at the county courthouse signing the deed.

The (Somerset) Daily American reports that Bradley and Penny Mason bought the house in Meyersdale intending to tear it down. It's located just feet from their home about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

A neighbor called 911 to report the fire at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, and fire officials have determined the origin was suspicious. The fire marshal is still investigating the cause.

Penny Mason tells the newspaper the home has "been sitting empty for a couple years. We didn't even know about the fire until the fire department was called."

The first-floor fire was quickly extinguished.