Two Monday evening fires in new construction homes in the Milton area were most likely set by arsonists, Milton Fire Department Inc. Fire Chief Lynn Rogers said today.
The fires are under investigation by the state Fire Marshall’s office, but the circumstances of the two fires indicate arson, Rogers said.
When fire crews pulled up to the scene of the first burning home, located about two miles north of Milton on Cedar Creek Road, Rogers recognized the home as being on the same site where an unfinished home had burned down on Memorial day 2008.
A driver on their way to work reported the fire at about 4 a.m. after seeing the fire’s glow, Rogers said.
Milton, Ellendale, Slaughter Beach and Lewes fire departments responded to the first fire.
As he arrived at the scene and realized the same young couple was again losing their home, the sense of déjà vu was sickening, Rogers said.
“They went through al that turmoil last year of going through insurance and starting all over again,” Rogers said. “I pulled up there yesterday, and it turned my stomach."
The home sustained at least $350,000 in damage, Rogers said.
“It was a total loss,” he said. “The young couple just had a baby in April, and they were all excited about getting into their house. The house was about burned down to the foundation when we got there.
The second fire at a home under construction off of Route 5 was reported about 45 minutes after the first one, Rogers said.
The Georgetown Fire Department, on hand providing back-up coverage at the Milton department, along with a crew of Milton firefighters, responded to the second fire promptly, Rogers said.
“It was definitely arson; they set the fire on the exterior of the home (near the garage),” Rogers said. “The Georgetown Fire Department and Milton responded before the fire whistle blew. They nailed (the second fire) before it into the roof of the house. ... Arsonist like to catch you with your pants down, but whoever thought they were south of town, and we were north of town, they got surprised.”
Indian River firefighters also responded to the second fire.
That home sustained about $10,000 in damage.
