HOWARD — Authorities have confirmed that Monday night’s fire at 481 King Beach Drive was deliberately set. The small blaze was confined to the deck area of the home and easily extinguished by firefighters from the Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District.
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Fire Chief Larry Stimpert said the fire has been ruled arson by Division of State Fire Marshal investigators, but could give no other information.
Little information was available from the Division of State Fire Marshal. Shane Cartmill, public information officer, said, “Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation, specific details, including how the fire was set, or what was found at the scene, will not be released at this time.”
He said the State Fire Marshal’s office will continue to work with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office on the investigation. Cartmill said the state office is taking the lead on the fire portion of the incident, and is assisting in the “much larger part of the investigation.”
