By Megan Horn
News Editor
The cause of a fire at a Green St. property in Mountain City Sept. 1 has been ruled as arson, according to the Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire.
The fire destroyed a vehicle and damaged a metal shop building, John F. King, insurance and safety fire commissioner, reported in a press release Wednesday.
Rabun County Fire Services Station 1 was dispatched at 4:23 p.m. for a smoke investigation in the area of Green Street in Mountain City. Mountain City police were also dispatched and located a metal building and vehicle on fire at 346 Green St., according to a press release from Rabun County Fire Services.
The call was then upgraded to a structure fire with Station 5 and 12 dispatched, according to the press release.
“The metal building was a former body shop and the vehicle was fully involved and had spread to the building. Personnel arriving deployed one one-and-three-fourth-inch hand line for defensive attack. Personnel entered the building with an additional one-and-three-fourth-inch hand line for interior attack,” according to the press release.
The fire was brought under control in approximately 20 minutes using 4,000 gallons of water. Personnel remained on scene hitting hotspots and overhaul until personnel left at 6:50 p.m.
“The fire was intentionally set in a vehicle parked at a property on Green St. in Mountain City and spread to a nearby shop building,” King said in Wednesday’s press release. “There was also an attempt to set a second vehicle at the property on fire and several other vehicles had their windows busted out.”
In coordination with the State Fire Investigations Unit, a reward of up to $10,000 is offered for more information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for arson, according to the news release.
The Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is working with Mountain City Police on the investigation.
Anyone with information on the fire should call the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1-800-252-5804.