Local News

Gwinnett investigates 2 house arsons

July 25, 2012

Gwinnett County authorities are probing two house fires that investigators determined were caused by arson.

The two cases are unrelated, Gwinnett fire Lt. Colin S. Rhoden told the AJC on Tuesday.

Investigators upgraded a June 22 house fire in the Stone Mountain area to arson.

Crews were dispatched to a home in the 5100 block of Vivid Drive around 8 a.m. that day. The fire caused heavy damage to the interior of the home, but the structure was saved. A fire K9 was used to help determine the cause of the blaze, which investigators deemed suspicious based on the amount of destruction and the unusual fire spread, Rhoden said in a news release.

A house fire in Loganville five days later also has been ruled an arson. Crews battled a fire in the 2400 block of Range Heights Terrace around 1:30 a.m. Initial information revealed that the house was in foreclosure, and investigators made their arson determination based in part on witness statements, Rhoden said.

No injuries were reported in either fire.

Anyone with information on either case should contact the Gwinnett Fire Arson and Explosives Investigation Section at 678-518-4890 or the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1-800-282-5804. Arson control offers a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for deliberately set fires.

About the Author

Angel K. Brooks is a senior manager for the programming team, focusing on quality control. She has been with the AJC since 2007 and started as a sports copy editor. She is a graduate of Florida A&M University.

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