Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
Fire destroyed an empty single-family residence Thursday morning, Oct. 11, at 541 Surrey Lane, off Ames Creek Drive.
Fire Chief Mike Beaver said the cause of the blaze was “suspicious.”
“The only ignition source in that structure was the electrical line that came in and the fire did not start back there,” he said. “Apparently, there have been a lot of problems with people breaking into that property. The fire started in the center of the house and we actually found a bucket with some briquets in it.”
He said the house was unoccupied when the fire broke out. It was called in by a neighbor and by Sweet Home Police Officer Randy Gill at 10:45 a.m., Beaver said.
Gill was at Thriftway and spotted the column of smoke when he exited the store, Beaver said. Gill drove to Surrey Lane and found the building on fire.
Neighbor Bill Tanner, who lives at 530 Surrey Lane, said he walked to Ames Creek Drive to get his mail and when he returned down the lane, he saw the building was ablaze and called 9-1-1.
The property’s owner is deceased, Beaver said, and the property is in a trust that is managed by Debra Niel of Arkansas.
Jared Claunch, a grandson of the owner, lives in Sweet Home and arrived midway through the firefighting operation. Claunch, who was visibly angry, punching cars that were parked on the property and yelling, told officials the building and its contents were uninsured. A smaller building a few feet away from the main house, also ignited due to the radiant heat, Beaver said.
Beaver said he estimated the damage to the buildings $20,000 and Claunch told him that family belongings stored inside were worth $12,000.
The fire was out by 12:53 p.m. Two engines and 14 firefighters responded.
Beaver said the investigation into the blaze is complete.
“There’s nothing there to investigate,” he said.