Officials confirm Winchester house fire was arson

WINCHESTER, Mass. (WHDH) -- Investigators have confirmed that the 3-alarm fire that destroyed a Winchester home last month was arson.

The Winchester Fire Department confirmed to 7News that somebody set fire to the house.

According to a report, the fire was set on the front porch of the house. The homeowner and his two daughters were sleeping when the fire broke out.

“It’s disheartening,” said homeowner Jim Covino. “Everything -- it’s really troubling.”

Covino took 7News inside his home, and described how he woke up to the sound of a smoke detector.

“It was a nightmare, but we got out -- we got out alive, so I think somebody was looking out for our safety,” Covino said.

Covino was met by a wall of flames punching through the front door. He ran upstairs, scrambling to wake up his two sleeping daughters -- a 9-year-old and a 13-year-old.

“The kids, the family, the extended family; we have to move on, try to put this behind us and take our next step,” Covino said.

The fire is now under investigation by the district attorney’s office.

“I don’t think anybody wants to carry this burden with them for the rest of their lives,” Covino said. “Hopefully if it were set than somebody will come forward and fess up.”

The house has to be torn down, but Covino says he will rebuild.

No arrests have been made.