June 26, 2010
A suspicious fire that destroyed an unoccupied Cullman Road home Friday morning has sparked an arson investigation by local authorities. The fire was discovered by Arab Police officer Jeff Warren while on routine patrol around 11:15 a.m. Warren said that he had just finished checking an abandoned car in the former SCI building parking lot when he saw the smoke and flames beginning to engulf the house. Evidence at the scene led authorities to open the arson investigation.

According to Dennis Chambers, the owner of the rental home, power and water had been turned off to the house for about three weeks. Chambers said that the former occupant had been moving his personal belongings from the home during the period. Chambers had planned to turn the power back on to the home next week to get it ready for another renter.

With high humidity and temperatures in the upper 90s firefighters had to once again fight a fire and try to avoid being endangered by the heat. Several firefighters had to be rehabbed at the scene by emergency medical personnel.

Firefighters from Arab, Joppa, Tri-County, Oden Ridge, and Brindlee Mountain fire departments responded to the scene. Arab, Joppa, and Tri-County had engines on the scene. Brindlee Mountain sent a truck and personnel to standby at the Arab Station during the blaze. Samaritan Ambulance Service and Marshall Medical Systems EMS assisted with medical calls.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by Arab Fire and Police.