Fire at Tracy and Blanton Streets

A house caught fire this evening at the corner of Blanton and Tracy streets. The cause: an electrical shortage.

Dozens of neighbors stood outside their homes and watched as firemen blocked off the street corner at around 6 p.m. Smoke was seen still coming from the roof minutes after firemen arrived. The fire itself was confined to the attic.

Several neighbors said the home with several 'For sale' and 'No Trespassing' signs posted had been vacant for some time.

The block-long Tracy Street was the site of two fatal shootings in 2006:

Feb. 20: Alan Bell was shot and killed inside his 401 Tracy St. home. The case is still under investigation and was never ruled a homicide.

June 25: Jesse McSwain was shot and killed outside his 413 1/2 Tracy St. home. Jeffery Guyton Jr. was charged weeks later with the murder.