Two Fires Set At The Same House Result in Arson Charges for Houston County Man

NASHVILLE – Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) Bomb and Arson Unit announce the arrest of a Houston County man on two counts of arson.

Franklin Rye, 42, was arrested on March 23, 2015 and now faces two counts of arson related to two fires he set at the same abandoned house in Houston County.

Investigators discovered Rye had attempted to burn an abandoned home first in October 2014 prior to a scheduled auction of the house and land.  Rye set a fire in a barrel on the house’s back porch. After the sale of the house and property, agents found that Rye again tried to set the house on fire by entering the house and lighting a fire with some garbage inside the house.

No one was injured in either fire. The house has been vacant for many years.

“Arson is a crime, even if a fire is started in an empty home or building, and there are no injuries in a fire,” said Deputy Commissioner for Fire Prevention Gary West.

The SFMO wants the public’s help in reporting suspected arsons. The Arson Hot Line (1-800-762-3017) is a phone line dedicated to receiving information about suspicious and incendiary fires. The phone is answered 24 hours a day and callers can remain anonymous when providing information.

Cash awards are offered for information leading to an arrest or conviction.

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