Investigation underway into two Cordele vacant home fires

CORDELE, GA (WALB) - Fire investigators in Cordele are still working to find out how two vacant homes in that city have burned this week. Firefighters spent the early Wednesday morning hours dousing an empty home with water on 10th street in Cordele.

They responded around 2 a.m. after a neighbor spotted heavy flames shooting from the roof.

"Matter of fact when they left the station, they said they didn't need an address it was fully involved," said Fire Chief Augusta Telfair, Cordele Fire Department.

The damage to the home is extensive. But Fire Chief Telfair says this isn't the first home to be destroyed by a fire this week.

Flames ripped through this vacant home in the 300 block of South 13th street Monday. Investigators believe both fires are similar but have not conclusively determined if they are related.

"Anytime you get a vacant structure and no one in the neighborhood noticed it until it broke through from the outside, the damage is done," said Chief Telfair.

Firefighters have found little evidence to help them determine how the second fire started but are checking to see if someone may have been living in the vacant home.

"We recovered a lighter in the alleyway that had been burned," said the Chief. "I can't say that was the ignition source that started it. It could have been someone living in the house trying to stay warm and started a small fire that got out of hand. "

Investigations into each empty house is ongoing. For now, Cordele fire officials want to remind residents to just keep an eye on neighboring vacant homes.

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