For the second time in two days, an empty home at 1305 Jackson St. was on fire. Thursday it had been set ablaze purposely, according to the Fort Wayne Fire Department, along with another empty home at 1310 Jackson across the street, which was reduced to a heap of rubble.

This morning’s fire, which began around 5:45 a.m., was apparently more serious. Firefighters reported seeing dense smoke and flames when they arrived.

It heavily damaged the two-story home as it spread throughout most of the inside, according to a fire eport, and took firefighters about 15 minutes to bring under control. The fire also melted the aluminum siding on the occupied home next door. The cause of the fire had not been released as of press time and was under investigation.

Fire investigators are still asking anyone with information about Thursday’s arson fires to call 427-1317.

“It’s really scary to hear those sirens and trucks coming again, not knowing whose house it is this time,” said neighborhood resident Susan Smethers this morning.

The first fire Thursday began around 5 a.m. at 1310 Jackson. Roughly two hours later firefighters were called to the street again to fight a fire at 1305. This morning firefighters took what appeared to be a burned mattress from the home and were working on the second floor.

According to a fire report, no one was injured. Smethers said the people who live in the blue home next door with the melted siding appeared to have gotten out safely. They were no longer on the scene this morning.

According to Smethers, people in the neighborhood thought that 1304 Jackson may have originally been a target for whoever is setting the fires because a brick was thrown through its front window Thursday morning. Though the downstairs of the home is empty and is advertised as for rent, someone does live in an upstairs apartment. No fire was set there.

Smethers also said she called police after seeing people begin raiding the rubble at 1310 Jackson for copper and wiring the night after the fire.

According to Smethers, many homes in the neighborhood were built in the early 1900s or thereabouts. At least one home on the block had been condemned, several others in the neighborhood were for sale or rent and, according to Smethers, there has been several foreclosures.