Arson to Blame for Stone Mountain House Fire

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA — Investigators are working to determine who is responsible for a July house fire that sent occupants scrambling for safety during the early morning hours.

According to officials, the blaze appears to have been intentionally set on the exterior of the home in the area of the front entryway.

Firefighters responded around 5:30 on July 28 to a report of a house fire on Rockwood Way. Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames and smoke showing from the front of a two-story wood frame house. Crews quickly deployed attack hose lines and obtained a positive water supply to support firefighting operations. Initial fire crews made immediate entry to combat the blaze and perform a primary search. Flames were already burning on the first and second floors and extending to the attic when fire trucks arrived. The blaze caused heavy damage to the front of the house.

The American Red Cross was contacted to assist the family displaced by the damage.

“Whoever set fire to the home knew there were occupants inside. This was a bold and senseless act that placed multiple people in extreme danger,” said Gwinnett Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge. Investigators are not releasing specifics about the case, but did state that the burned home was the intended target.

Residents in the neighborhood are encouraged to stay alert to their surroundings and to report suspicious activity to the police immediately by calling 911.

Image: Gwinnett County Fire Department