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One in custody | Arson ruled as cause in Sunday morning fire that damaged 20 homes

At least four homes were completely destroyed.
American Red Cross

HIRAM, Ga. -- A fire that destroyed four homes Sunday morning and damaged several others has been ruled as arson.

According to the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner's office, police have a person of interest in custody on an unrelated charge.

The person in custody has been charged with public drunkenness according to the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.

At this time, investigators believe the fire started around 3 a.m. in the kitchen and dining room area inside one of the homes on Rosemont Court, off of Greystone Parkway, and spread to a dozen others.

The latest numbers from officials are:

  • 4 homes totally destroyed
  • 2 homes with major damage
  • 14 additional homes suffered varying degrees of heat/smoke damage
  • No fatalities

Two pets were killed in the fire that took 25 Paulding County firefighters to extinguish. Officials said five engines, two ladder trucks and four command officers responded to the scene.

Paulding County Fire Lt. Steve Mapes said when crews arrived, the fire was "very intense."

"They are vinyl siding houses and it spread very, very fast," he said.

He said quick-thinking first responders helped evacuate families from the homes.

"We are very fortunate here. Thanks to the law enforcement officers that got here and cleared these houses before we got on the scene. No doubt they made an impact and the fact that there was one minor injury, one minor ankle injury and no fire department personnel were hurt. You can look around and see how intense it was. We are very, very blessed that that happened," he said.

The Paulding County Fire Department said a man removing his family from their home had a minor ankle injury but was able to drive himself to the hospital.

Mapes said he has never seen anything like this before in his years on the job.

"This was definitely an unusual situation. We've had multiple houses that have been on fire in the past but really nothing like this in the last 20 years that I've worked for the department that I can think of," he said.

"That's not a normal day at the fire department."

The Red Cross responded to the scene and said the fire displaced around 20 people. The organization said they are providing emergency needs, food, clothing, lodging and replacement medication, etc.

If anyone wishes to assist the victims or donate supplies, they're asked to visit the Hiram Police Department's Facbeook page.

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