Statesville firefighters rushed to an abandoned structure fire in south Statesville Monday afternoon to find the house engulfed in a ball of flames.
It was a familiar scene -- the third time the same house caught fire this year, officials say.
Each time, firefighters suspect the fire at 616 Newbern Ave. was set on purpose.
“There are kids in there all the time doing that,” said Bryan Millsaps, who lives next door. “They should have torn it down a long time ago, because then there would be nothing there to catch fire.”