07-20-04 – Ardmore police and firefighters are investigating two cases of arson that may be connected. Two fires broke out early Tuesday morning, one of the fires targeting an Ardmore family.

Just before 5:30am on Tuesday, firefighters responded to a call of a van on fire in a vacant lot at the intersection of MLK and I Street Northeast.

When firefighters got to the scene, the van was fully engulfed and had been driven into a tree. Police believe the van was stolen.

Twenty minutes later, firefighters were called to fire at a home in the 300 block of 7th Street Northeast. A husband, wife and four children ages 3, 5, 8 and 11 were inside the home at the time, but no one was hurt. The owner of the house was able to put out the flames before firefighters got to the scene.

Firefighters say a suspect or suspects attempted to set a vehicle, parked in the driveway on fire as well.

In both cases, fire officials say arson is to blame. The Ardmore police department is now investigating whether the fires are connected and if they are gang-related.

So far, two suspects have been detained for questioning.