Mahanoy City Police arrested a borough man Monday for burglarizing properties damaged by Thursday’s fire in the 300 block of West South Street.

Joseph Minnich, 48, is in Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail. He is charged with four felonies, two each of burglary and criminal trespass, and one each of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and possessing an instrument of crime, all misdemeanors. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 12 p.m. Jan. 14 in front of Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, Shenandoah.

Eight people were displaced from the fire that started at 309 W. South St. shortly before 10 a.m. The fire spread to 307 and 311. A home at 313 had smoke and water damage.

Mahanoy City Fire Chief Dan Markewicz said the fire “isn’t malicious or arson. It’s unintentional.” He said Reading state police fire marshal Corey Heimbach is still investigating the cause of the fire.