Reward Offered In Gwinnett Arson Attempt

LILBURN, GA — Georgia fire authorities are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information about two intentionally-set fires in Gwinnett County.

The fires were reported at 9:19 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16 at the Brentwood Down Apartments on Pleasant Hill Road, near Lilburn. According to investigators, there was a strong smell of gasoline in the burned area and a gas can was found in a stairwell by responding fire crews and police.

The gas can and samples from charred debris of wall material were collected as evidence and sent to the GBI crime lab for further testing.

One fire was doused by the complex's overhead sprinkler system and the other was stomped out by a police officer who was the first to arrive on the scene.

"We are fortunate that these fires could be put out quickly and that no loss of life or major damage occurred," said Gwinnett County Fire & Emergency Services Capt. Tommy Rutledge.

Fire officials say the person responsible for the fires likely will face a host of felony charges.

"The fires were set in a manner that would block the egress of occupants from the building, thus placing a number of people in extreme danger," Rutledge said.

One woman was initially trapped on her balcony and was unable to use the stairwell to escape due to the smoke and heat. The woman was assisted out by police and a neighbor and was uninjured.

The fire caused minor damage to exterior siding material in two separate areas of the breezeway on the second floor and ground level, but did not spread inside apartment units.

Anyone with information about the fires 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. All tips may be made anonymously. Arson is a felony crime and punishable by one to 20-years imprisonment and associated fines.

Photos courtesy Gwinnett County Fire & Emergency Services