Suspicious Fire Damages Barn

By: Beth Alexander | WHLT
Published: January 06, 2012

An early morning fire on Wednesday on Lowery Creek Road damaged a barn belonging to Carroll Pierce and Jones County Sheriff’s Department Fire Investigator Sgt. Scott Gable is investigating the cause of the fire. Volunteer fire units from Boggy, South Jones and Southwest Jones, along with Jones County Sheriff’s Department Fire Investigator Sgt. Scott Gable, were dispatched to the incident scene at approximately 6:40 a.m. on Wednesday. “Upon arrival of volunteer fire units, the barn was on fire and volunteer firefighters did a great job with a quick extinguishment which saved the barn and contents,” notes Gable. “Our initial investigation revealed that the fire was suspicious in nature and the investigation into a potential suspect or suspects is ongoing.” If determined to be arson, Gable advises, “Arson is a felony in Mississippi punishable under Mississippi Criminal Code 97-17-1 with a sentence of not less than five years nor more than twenty years in the state penitentiary and the offender shall pay restitution for any damages caused.”

“The Jones County Sheriff’s Department diligently investigates fires of a suspicious origin in Jones County and Sgt. Scott Gable works closely with Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna in these efforts,” notes Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge. He adds, “We continue to aggressively pursue and bring to justice those who would seek to bring harm or damage to others.”

Anyone with information on this fire is asked to contact Sgt. Scott Gable at the Jones County Sheriff’s Department at 601-425-3147.