HARALSON COUNTY, Ga. --
A Haralson County home just yards away from a fire station was set on fire, according to the Haralson County Fire Department.
The Saturday night fire is the latest in a string of 18 fires since May, Haralson County firefighters said. They blamed at least 15 of them on arson.
Haralson County Fire Chief Brian Walker said theres no question that an arsonist was behind the fire on Bethlehem Church Road.
It was some type of flammable liquid that was poured in the house, Walker told Channel 2s Diana Davis.
The Hayes family said they were down the street at a family cookout while their home burned.
Firefighters reached the home within 60 seconds, but Walker said it was a minute too late. He said the fire was blazing so intensely that it blew off the homes windows, and the arsonist had already fled the scene, Walker said.
Firefighters found the kitchen door forced open and an empty gas can lying on the kitchen floor, Walker said.
Investigators said the arsonist first set the living room couches on fire and then poured more flammable liquid near the bedroom door of the Hayes familys 8-year-old son.
It bothers us real bad, and I know it tore our kids up, said family patriarch Joshua Hayes. I just want whoever did it to be caught.
Walker said the fire department depends on the publics help to develop leads.
Were needing our citizens to really step up to the plate and give us a hand in this so we can put some people in jail, he said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the states arson hotline at 800-282-5804 or Haralson Fire at 770- 646-2036, extension 11.
There is up to $10,000 in reward money for information leading to an arrest.
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