Police: Four fire calls to Appomattox house Monday

By Dave Thompson

Published: August 5, 2008

A fire that destroyed part of an Appomattox County home Monday night was the fourth in a series of fire calls that day to the same residence, according to Virginia State Police.

It was those calls and evidence found at the 418 Beeks Lane mobile home that led state police to say the fourth and final blaze was intentionally set.

“It is definitely an arson,” Trooper A. Goss said.

Goss said matches were found at the scene and evidence indicated that an accelerant was likely used to make the fire spread quickly.

“We haven’t found an accelerant yet,” he said, “but in order to get the burn that we’re looking at … there’s more than likely an accelerant that’s been used.”

When evidence returns from the forensic laboratory, Goss said, it should be clear what materials were used.

The Concord Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene with state police shortly after a neighbor reported the house on fire around 8 p.m.

The first three calls Monday were all in response to minor fires at the home.

“It was small objects,” Goss said, “a trash can, some pillows, one time it was a stuffed animal that had caught on fire.”

Prior to Monday, the fire department had also received other calls to the residence, though Goss didn’t know the nature of those calls.

Firefighters put the fire out within about 15 minutes, containing the damage to one bedroom. Investigators determined that a mattress in that bedroom was the source of the fire.

Police have identified two people of interest in the case, but would not give any details because the investigation is ongoing.

Two family members, a mother and daughter, were displaced, but neither was hurt in the fire.

Goss said the Historic Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross is helping them with lodging and supplies until they can move back into their house.