DeKalb investigators net one arrest in suspicious fires

DeKalb County investigators have made one arrest in connection to a recent string of suspicious fires along a stretch of the Memorial Drive corridor. 21-year-old Jeremy Tremaine Sprowl is charged with one count of first-degree arson for allegedly setting fire to a used car dealership. Fire investigators are still trying to determine how nine other fires in the area were set. During a 24-hour period from Sunday into Monday, firefighters responded to 11 suspicious fires along a two-mile stretch of Memorial Drive. Various businesses and a church were targeted.

Reward offered in DeKalb fires investigation

The state’s Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner’s Office has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an arsonist in DeKalb County.

A dozen fires broke-out over a recent 24-hour period in the county, along the Memorial Drive corridor. State officials said one of those fires was arson--a blaze that destroyed a building on the property of a church in the area. Other businesses damaged or destroyed have not yet been ruled arson, but officials believe that is a strong possibility. Three persons of interest were taken into custody Monday night, in connection with a stolen vehicle with a possible connection to the fires.

Rash of fires in DeKalb County 'suspicious'

DeKalb County firefighters have been battling nearly a dozen blazes along the corridor of Memorial Drive in that county over the past 12 hours. No injuries have been reported, but officials believe these fires were intentionally set. One blaze destroyed a preschool in the area, another severely damaged a church, and others burned a rental car and auto sales business. DeKalb officials say the fires broke-out within two miles of one another.

Arson fires in Lowndes County

Two recent fires in Lowndes County have been determined to be the work of arsonists. Investigators with the Georgia Forestry Commission found multiple starting points in the fires, thus their arson designation. Officials say there have been seven blazes set in Lowndes County the past two weeks. Valdosta officials say they've responded to 12 arson fires in two weeks, resulting in three arrests.

In southeast Georgia, the major fires that continue to burn have now charred about 480-thousand acres.

Arson arrests in southeast Georgia

There have been arrests of two juveniles for arson, connected to fires in the southeast Georgia area. A 16-year-old boy was charged with setting a brush fire near Jesup. Another boy, 12-years-old, is facing charges of starting a blaze near Waycross. Both fires were quickly put out and burned less than an acre each.

Governor Sonny Perdue's office says all arson fires have been contained. A special arson investigation task force is still following many leads. Investigators are still in search of a truck driven by an arson witness.