GASTONIA, NC — Gastonia fire investigators say two overnight fires at empty homes have been ruled intentional.
The first fire happened just after 1am at a home on Collinston Drive. Fire crews found smoke and flames coming through the roof of the one story home when they arrived, according to officials. The house was vacant, and it took crews about 30 minutes to put out the flames.
The second fire was reported around 2:30am at another vacant home about two miles away on Milton Avenue. It took crews about 10 minutes to extinguish heavy flames that were coming from the front of that one story house, officials say.
No injuries were reported in either incident, and investigators say both homes were a total loss. Damage estimates for the Collinston Drive home are around $20,000, and around $40,000 at the the Milton Avenue home.
Investigators say that both fires have been ruled intentional. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gaston County Crime Stoppers at 704-861-8000.
