The first fire broke out Thursday at 3:05 a.m. Occupants of a home in the 1500 block of Greenbrae Drive called the Sparks Fire Department to report the blaze. The firefighters found the front exterior of the home fully involved in fire, with fire extending into the eaves of the structure.
Fire crews had the blaze knocked down within four minutes, according to the official report, limiting the damage primarily to the exterior of the home. The fire burned all the plants, including three juniper bushes, in a planter in front of the home. The heat from the fire shattered the living room window, causing some smoke and heat damage to the interior. The front door and screen door were also damaged, as well as the exterior siding on the home. The fire entered the attic and charred a small area of the roof trusses. Due to the damage, the home was not able to be re-occupied.
The occupants evacuated the home before firefighters arrived and there were no injuries reported to either occupants or to public safety crews.
No cause for the fire has been determined and it remains under investigation. No damage cost estimates have yet been calculated.
The previous night, Sparks firefighters responded to a report of a tree on fire in the area of Rock Boulevard and G Street. On arrival, the fire company found a vacant lot with some light brush burning and a tree located in the middle of the brush also on fire. This fire was extinguished, but no cause for the fire was able to be determined.
In both cases, it was reported that a person had been seen in the area at the time of, or immediately prior to, the report of the fires.
The similarities of these two fires — after midnight, fire cause undetermined, vegetation on fire and the fact that someone was in the area at an unusual time of day — has led department investigators to suspect possible arson.
Anyone with information about or a description of a suspicious person in the areas of these fires is asked to call Fire Marshal Bob King at 353-2266 (office) or 527-3712 (cell).
Post a Comment