Tuesday, Apr. 25, 2023–8:25 a.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
The investigation continues into a Monday night structure fire at the top of the hill on Ross Street near Five Points.
The call came in at around 10:27 p.m.
Firefighters went into defensive mode since there was no way to make an interior attack.
They battled the blaze from both Ross Street and Smith Street.
The single-story home, which had been vacant for some time, had no utilities running to it.
Rome Fire Marshal Mary Catherine Chewning said she has spoken with the owner of the property and there has been an issue with homeless people going into the structure in the past. Sometimes, fires are started as a way to stay warm as opposed to being of malicious intent. Code enforcement also found a suspicious vehicle in the area Tuesday morning.
Chewning said the cause of the fire is still undetermined and asks that anyone who may have seen anyone in or around the home Monday night to call the Rome Fire Department, the Rome Police Department, or 911.
Contributed photo via the Rome News-Tribune