FARMINGTON -- Washington County Fire Marshal's office is investigating an arson fire that damaged a duplex at 116 E. Neal St. in Farmington on Sunday, Feb. 4, according to Dennis Ledbetter, fire marshal.
The call came in at 3:47 a.m., said Farmington Fire Chief Mark Cunningham. Prairie Grove and Wedington fire departments also responded to the call. Cunningham said the inside of the structure was damaged, along with heavy smoke damage.
Ledbetter said samples from the fire have been sent to the Arkansas Crime Lab. He said some type of accelerant most likely was used to start the fire but he will not know until he receives a report from the Crime Lab.
He commended Farmington police officer Josh Collins who smelled smoke in the area and figured out the smell was coming from the duplex.
"He kicked in the front door to see if anyone was in there," Ledbetter said. "If he hadn't discovered the fire, it probably would have been a big one."
One of the units was vacant and the other one was occupied. Ledbetter said no one was home at the time.
General News on 02/14/2018