The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a Saturday night fire that destroyed an empty house in Briceville that had been the target of thieves, authorities said.
The fire at 230 Brown Flats Lane was reported at about 11:36 p.m. Saturday.
John L. Brown, the victim, who lives at a separate address on Brown Flats Lane, said the empty house was his parents’ old home, and there have recently been several thefts there, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Joshua A. Humphrey said in an incident report. In one of those thefts, someone stole all the copper, and there was no electricity at the home, Brown told Humphrey.
Brown’s son, John Tyler Brown, said he found the woods around the house on fire when he went out to his car Saturday night, the report said. He ran inside to call 911 and wake up his father to tell him the home was on fire.
Briceville Volunteer Fire Department Chief James Wilson told Humphrey that the fire could have been an arson since the utilities have been turned off, but further investigation is required.
Humprey said the home was a total loss, and the Sheriff’s Department will continue to investigate.
This is the fourth home fire in Anderson County reported in about a two-week period.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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