4-27-16
By: Rob Moore
Suspicious Fire 5834 Highway 129, Cleveland, (originally reported as Poppy Drive)
(Atlanta)- Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph T. Hudgens is asking for the public’s help regarding a fire that destroyed a 130-year-old house in White County Monday afternoon.
The two-story, wood frame house at 5834 Highway 129, Cleveland, was built in 1885 and was destroyed by Monday’s fire, reported at 1:45 p.m. by a passing motorist.
The exact cause of the fire is under investigation, said Glenn Allen, spokesman for Hudgens. Samples were taken at the site and were submitted to the State Crime Lab for examination.
The house was owned by the estate of James Ayers, and did have power connected, Allen said.
“Although the cause of this fire is undetermined, Commissioner Hudgens is asking anyone with information on this fire to call the Arson Hotline at (800) 282-5804. A reward of up to $10,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an arsonist in Georgia.
“We’re not saying this fire is arson at this time, but the fire does appear suspicious,” Allen said. “The commissioner is reaching out to the public in hopes of determining what happened to cause this blaze.”
