Arsonist burns home in north Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A fire marshal says an arsonist started a fire on Friday afternoon in the 2000 block of North Jefferson Avenue, near Atlantic Street.  When firefighters arrived shortly after 2 p.m., heavy smoke and flames were coming out of the front section of the home.

The rest of the house suffered smoke damage.  The fire marshal says there were multiple points of ignition in the home and neighbors saw a person running away from the house.  The owner was out of the city.