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The Mansfield Fire Department responded to an urgent call reporting a fully engulfed structure fire at 91 Penn Avenue. Upon arrival, firefighters found flames consuming a garage situated at the rear of the property.
Emergency services were alerted by dispatch to the possible presence of an elderly resident trapped within the inferno. Firefighters battled the blaze and conducted an exhaustive search of the premises, ultimately confirming the absence of any occupants within the garage.
However, suspicions surrounding the fire’s origin were raised, prompting the involvement of the Mansfield Police Department. Eyewitnesses came forward, recounting sightings of an individual donning a distinctive red and black coat fleeing from the scene. Additional reports stated a black male resided in the garage and may be the one seen running from the garage. Accounts from neighbors hinted at potential drug-related activities, with one resident suggesting the individual in question was involved with methamphetamine.
Despite concerted efforts by law enforcement to locate the suspect, their endeavors proved fruitless. Meanwhile, as investigations into the blaze unfolded, authorities made a discovery. Among the debris, suspected drug manufacturing equipment— including a glass cooking pot, sifter, metal bottle, and rubber hose piece— was uncovered. The evidence was collected and forwarded to the crime lab for further analysis.
