BREAKING: Two recent fires in Toccoa-Stephens County have been ruled arson, reward offered

Authorities are asking for the public’s help to find and arrest the person responsible for setting two separate buildings on fire late last month.

The fires occurred on Thursday, December 26, in Toccoa in a span of 4-hours.

An investigator with the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office has ruled both fires as arson.

According to release issued on Monday, the two fires happened within half a mile of one another.

The first fire occurred around 2:00 p.m. at an abandoned storage building, located at 500 West Currahee Street in Toccoa.

The 1,500 square-foot structure was completely destroyed in the fire.

The second fire occurred shortly after 6:00 p.m. at an abandoned residence, located at 167 Zebulon Branch Road, in Toccoa.

This abandoned residence was also completely destroyed.

Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King is asking anyone with knowledge about these fires to call the Arson Hotline at 1-800-282-5804.

Rewards are offered of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist(s).

Calls are taken 24-hours a day and callers can choose to remain anonymous.

King adds that due to the similar circumstances surrounding these dangerous fires, he believes that the same person or group of people is responsible for setting the fires.

Investigators with the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office are assisting the Carnes Creek Fire Department and the City of Toccoa Fire Department with the investigation.