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Officials looking for cause of brush fires

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

A rash of suspicious brush fires along golf cart paths in Glenloch Village have prompted Peachtree City fire officials to take action.

Officials suspect an unknown juvenile might be behind the rash of fires that have ravaged Peachtree City’s prized greenbelt along Bridlepath, Clydesdale Road and Peachtree Parkway, and taxed city fire crews.

To solve the problem, Peachtree City Fire Marshal John Dailey sent fliers to the closest schools, McIntosh High School and Booth Middle School, and asked school officials to make announcements.

He hopes this will discourage the alleged fire bug or prompt a student to turn him in and possibly claim a monetary reward.

“Just in the last couple of weeks, we started receiving a number of calls, mostly typical brush fires or trash fires along cart paths, mostly in the Glenloch area,” Dailey said. “Most of them are really quite small, but it’s just a nuisance.”

Trees have been toppled and foliage have been singed by the hands of the suspected arsonist and fire officials want the crimes to stop.

Dailey indicated the city spends money to maintain the greenbelt, and the arsonist’s actions are counteracting that effort.

“The fact of the matter is it is arson. It’s just that simple,” Dailey said. “It’s arson.”

Officials are worried the arsonist might move on to something bigger and that’s why they are offering a reward to stop him.

Fire officials are offering up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist. The money comes from insurance companies and is routed through the Georgia Arson Control Board.

Dailey hopes this will get someone’s attention.

“Sometimes people will talk when there’s money involved,” he said.

The city has had similar incidents in the past, but getting the word out and raising awareness have solved the problem. Fire officials hope this will yield the same result.

“Our main goal is to stop it,” Dailey said. “But by the same token, if somebody wants to point finger and we gain a confession or a conviction, it could mean a reward for someone.”

The fire bug could face charges of criminal damage to property or arson.

“Either way, it’s going to be on the record,” Dailey said.