Photo by Alan Olson Firefighters work to combat a blaze that destroyed two vacant houses on Franklin Street in Bellaire on Saturday.

BELLAIRE — Two vacant houses went up in smoke Saturday evening near the 4040 block of Franklin Street.

Smoke from the fires was visible for miles as a brown plume rose from the Bellaire hillside around 6:30 p.m. Firefighters on ladders climbed to the second story of one house to battle the blaze from the inside; however, loud blares of the fire truck’s horn soon recalled them as the roof threatened to collapse about 45 minutes later.

As a safety precaution, the large crowd that had gathered on the steps of Hillcrest Christian Gathering was dispersed, but it was allowed to reform after the fire was under control around 8:15 p.m.

Bellaire Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Tim Bell said investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire, though at the scene he suspected the blaze started in the roof of the southern house. The fire spread quickly throughout the structure, leaping to the next house. Both were destroyed by the fires. Firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading to neighboring structures.

At the scene, Bell did not have further information on the matter, though he did not believe anyone was inside the buildings at the time the fires broke out.

Bellaire’s volunteer fire crews were assisted by Martins Ferry, Neffs and Shadyside fire departments, as well as the Belmont County Tanker Task Force.