Fire At Norcross Home Ruled an Arson

NORCROSS, GA -- A fire that destroyed a Norcross home Monday afternoon appears to have been set intentionally, fire officials said.

Three men, possibly teens, on bicycles and wearing backpacks were spotted near the home, on DeKalb Lane in unincorporated Norcross, according to Gwinnett County Fire & Emergency Services.

"The circumstances surrounding the blaze appear suspicious and are currently under active investigation by the fire department," fire department spokesman Tommy Rutledge said in a written statement.

The statement said authorities are investigating the possibility that the home was burglarized, then set on fire.

Firefighters responded at 5:23 p.m. Monday to multiple calls from neighbors about a fire at the home, in the 5700 block of DeKalb Lane.

The single-story, wood frame and brick house was already heavily engulfed by the blaze when firefighters arrived. The home and its contents were declared a total loss.

No one was at home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.

Fire officials ask anyone with information about the fire to contacted Gwinnett Fire's investigations section at (678) 518-4890 or the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1-800-282-5804. Georgia Arson Control offers a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of arsonists.

The DeKalb Lane blaze was one of two fires that destroyed homes in unincorporated Norcross on Monday.

The other fire, on Brooklyn Lane NW, was not considered suspicious, investigators said Tuesday.

(Photos courtesy Gwinnett County Fire & Emergency Services)