By Jean Cole
jean@athensnews-courier.com
ATHENS —
A deputy state fire marshal is expected to investigate today the cause of a fire that destroyed an unoccupied home in Ardmore.
A Thursday-morning fire — the second at the home in six months — gutted the two-story, single-family home at 26550 Fourth St., Ardmore Fire Chief Tim Toone said.
“We consider it suspicious in nature because a witness saw someone coming in and going about of the home about five minutes before the fire was reported,” Toone told The News Courier. “We have contacted the state fire marshal, Jimmy Collier, and he and our fire investigator will investigate.”
Ardmore Volunteer Fire Department was called at 8:46 a.m. to the home at the intersection of Fourth Street and Ardmore Avenue, next to the high school. Ardmore firefighters were assisted by Oak Grove and Elkmont firefighters and they called in Elkton, Tenn., firefighters for additional manpower, Toone said. They were on the scene for more than two hours.
The home caught fire previously on Nov. 15, 2011, by a candle set in a stairwell, Toone said.
“The homeowners had extinguished the fire upon our arrival and the house was still under repair for that fire when this fire occurred,” the chief said. “The family had been living in a rental home in Huntsville while the repairs were being made.”
Family members have been interviewed and will be interviewed again today when the fire marshal arrives to help officials try to determine the cause of the blaze, the chief said.
