Right now a Machesney Park neighborhood is buzzing, after residents learn a house fire Wednesday may have been arson.

Lynne Guy woke up Wednesday morning to the sound of sirens.
"Looked out the window and saw the flames," she says.
There was an explosion and the house across the street was engulfed in fire.
"It took a minute to realize what was happening, but you could feel the heat from my front door," says Guy.
The heat continues for the homeowners. Father of six, 38-year old Kevin Bohnenkamp, is now charged with arson. Winnebago County sheriff's deputies arrested him after a joint investigation with the state fire marshal. He's being held at the Winnebago County jail.
Guy says neighbors gathered as the blaze died down. One mentioned she'd seen Bohnenkamp leave just 15 minutes before the fire started.
"That immediately made me think that that was odd," says Guy.
According to neighbors, this isn't the first time things have seemed odd at the house. Several neighbors told me Bohnenkamp had been building a large structure in front of his house, but then tore it down, possibly because he hadn't gone through the proper permitting process.
And a couple years back a garage at the house caught on fire. Guy says neighbors have told her there were rumors at the time that Bohnenkamp was fighting with the city over zoning for the garage.
Guy says, "I guess he kept getting hassled and then next thing we knew she said 'mysteriously' was her words, that went up in flames."
So as the mystery continues in the neighborhood, one thing is certain, the blaze that destroyed the home of six children and killed three dogs was a tragedy.
"If it was arson and to intentionally leave animals in a burning house, that's just horrific," says Guy.

23 News spoke to several other neighbors who did not want to go on camera. They said the family generally kept to themselves, but the kids in the neighborhood all played together and that's what's hit hardest for many on the street. They all agreed this is a very difficult situation.

23 News could not reach anyone from the family Thursday for reaction to the charges. But when we covered the fire Wednesday, the children and mother appeared very emotional, and were exchanging hugs.
Neighbors said Thursday night that many believe the father was not as shocked as you might expect. While we were there he didn't show much emotion and did not want to speak on our cameras.