August fire in Lynchburg house ruled arson

By Carrie J. Sidener

Published: September 2, 2008

A fire that burned an unoccupied house last month has been deemed arson, police said.

The fire happened on Aug. 13 at an unoccupied house at 2001 Kingston Ave. in Lynchburg, according to a Lynchburg Police Department news release. The fire is believed to have started between 6 and 6:15 a.m.

Lynchburg Fire Marshall Greg Wormser said the fire was officially ruled arson a few days later. He said there was no power hooked to the house and no other accidental cause for the fire.

The house, owned by Steve Lawson, was not occupied and stood completely empty at the time of the fire, Wormser said.

The fire was reported by a public works crew that noticed smoke coming from the house, he said. The fire started in one of the front bedrooms.

“We are still following up on leads and interviewing people in the neighborhood and people who lived in the house before,” Wormser said.

The fire caused moderate structural damage, estimated at $20,000.

This is the second arson to burn a structure in Lynchburg this year, Wormser said. There have been a few other cases that have involved things like grass fires or trash cans.

“We have been very few … that involve a structure,” he said.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900.

Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.