The Herald-News - News Story

    A home belonging to Larry and Lorrelle Peak on Lori Drive in Dayton was engulfed and destroyed by flames Friday.
    According to Rhea County Fire investigator Chuck Kinney, at about 7:52 p.m., fire districts 600, 760, 780 and 750 were dispatched to a residence fire at the modular home.
    The owners had moved to Texas in December, and the home was allegedly vacant for approximately two weeks before the fire started, Kinney said.
    Utilities were established to the structure, but Christopher Lee, who had viewed the home for rent earlier that day, saw the fire burning and turned off power to the home prior to the fire department's arrival, Kinney added.
    About six fire units and 20 firefighters arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire using hand lines from several engines. No injuries were reported.
    Debbie Ward, Lorrelle Peak's mother, allegedly told Kinney that she felt someone might have been staying at the house without permission.
    She stated that the light bill was "extremely high" for no one to be living there, he said.     Also, every time she would go by the home and lock the door, she would come back and find it left open, Kinney reported.
    According to Kinney, the front right bedroom appeared to be where the fire originated.     When he arrived on the scene, the bedroom had heavy fire extending to the middle and throughout the rest of the home. The lowest and heaviest fire damage was also found in this area.
    Since the fire damage left little evidence, Kinney ruled the cause of the fire undetermined.
    However, because of Ward's statement, the fire report was submitted to the Rhea County Sheriff's Department for a criminal investigation.
    Michelle Friesen can be reached at michelle.friesen@rheaheraldnews.com.