Arson Suspected in Gwinnett County Fire

SUGAR HILL, GA — A fire that damaged a home in Sugar Hill last week has been ruled an arson by investigators.

Gwinnett County Fire & Emergency Services officials say someone appears to have forced their way into the home through a basement door and intentionally set the Wednesday blaze, on the 4800 block of Parkview Mine Drive, NE, in Sugar Hill.

Investigators have interviewed the two men who live at the home in hopes of determining a motive.

At about 3:42 p.m., a 911 caller on Wednesday reported smoke coming from inside the house.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke pushing out of the basement of the two-story home and the home's owner, who was spraying water into the basement with a garden hose.

The man had reportedly gotten word of the fire and arrived before firefighters.

Fire crews quickly got inside the burning home and were able to contain the blaze to the basement, where it caused moderate damage. It was under control by 4:04 p.m.

There was no one inside the home and no injuries were reported.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Gwinnett County Fire Investigations Section at (678) 518-4890 or the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1-800-282-5804. Georgia Arson Control, Inc. offers a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for arson. All tips may be made anonymously.