Fire hits Macon buildings for second time, arson suspected

MACON - Two downtown buildings that were heavily damaged by arson fires in December and January were victimized again this week. <br> <br> Macon-Bibb County fire Chief Jimmy Hartley said he strongly suspects arson in the most recent fire. <br> <br> Dozens of firefighters sprayed water into the two-story Yellow Cab building on Second and Poplar streets Wednesday. <br> <br> Smoke poured from windows that had been covered with plywood about six weeks ago to prevent people from entering the dangerous structure, severely damaged in a similar fire in January. <br> <br> A person working in the area told investigators that two men sped away in a white car that was parked in a nearby alley. About ten minutes later, the witness said he saw flames shooting out of the Yellow Cab building. Firefighters found gasoline cans inside the building. <br> <br> Just as firefighters were putting out that blaze, a fire broke out in another building in the same block, the old Moose Club on Third Street, which had been burned in a December arson. <br> <br> Fire investigators have said the fires in December and January were related, but Hartley said it was too soon to tell if Wednesday&#39;s fires were related to them. <br> <br> Both buildings are owned by Atlanta developer Steve DeFrancis, as are most of the other buildings on the block.