Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010

Police looking into house fires

Clayton fires could be tied to a similar arson case in October

Police are probing whether fires last week at two vacant houses are tied to a similar arson case in October.

At about 6 a.m. Jan. 18, a Clayton police officer spotted flames coming through the roof of a house under construction at 102 Rolling Meadows Drive, off of Glen Laurel Road, police said. The fire department put out the blaze, which police believe was set intentionally. The house sustained major damage.

Police discovered that someone had also entered the house at 116 Rolling Meadows Drive and tried to start a fire there, said Detective Patrick Millar. That house sustained minor damage.

Both homes were under construction and are owned by Savvy Homes of Raleigh, according to police.

The houses are in a subdivision where some homes are occupied. Millar said last week that police hadn't been able to gather much information.

"No one's really been able to tell us anything," he said. "A lot of the evidence, if any, was burned up."

Because the houses were still under construction, the doors did not yet have locks, Millar said.

Police have no suspects in the case. Millar said he was comparing notes with a detective who investigated fires at two vacant houses last Halloween.

Police suspect those fires were also arson, but no arrests have been made. The houses were about a quarter-mile from the homes burned last week, said Police Chief Glen Allen. "Obviously, that's a concern for us -- that there may be a connection," he said.

The houses burned in October were owned by the Smithfield development company Gidco, Allen said.

The State Bureau of Investigation and Clayton's fire marshal are assisting police with the investigation.

Police are asking for help from the public. They want to hear from anyone who saw suspicious people or vehicles on or near Rolling Meadows Drive between 4:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. Jan. 18.

Anyone with information may call Clayton police at 919-553-4611 or Clayton Crime Stoppers at 919-359-8479.

An award is available for information that leads to an arrest.