BUFORD - A fire at an abandoned house in Buford looks suspicious, and Gwinnett firefighters are asking for the public's help in solving what they believe to be a case of arson.
Gwinnett Fire Capt. Thomas Rutledge said crews responded just before 5 p.m. Friday to the fire on Cumming Highway near Garner Spring Lane.
Firefighters found a small abandoned structure, possibly an old house, that was engulfed in flames and an area of the woods on fire around the structure on arrival. The structure was completely destroyed.
Rutledge said, "There were no utilities running to that house...no power, no gas, really no reason for a fire to have occurred, except for it to be intentionally set."
Someone also tried to set fire to the exterior of a second nearby abandoned structure on an adjoining property. The second structure was about 150 to 200 feet away from the first fire and was located closer to the roadway. Firefighters extinguished that fire before it could damage the structure.
According to fire investigators, both blazes appear to be related and both are being investigated as acts of arson.
Rutledge is asking any witnesses to call Gwinnett fire investigators at 678-518-4890.
Saturday
May 18th, 2024
6:00PM
