The sheriff's office said careless use of fireworks caused a cedar shingle roof to catch fire and led to the loss of an expensive home in East Brainerd.
The house fire that occurred on May 18 at 1804 Apple Orchard Trail was investigated by the Tri-Community Fire Department and the sheriff’s office.
When emergency personnel arrived on the scene, they found the cedar shingle roof fully engulfed by fire. Firefighters attempted an interior attack on the fire when they arrived, but had to evacuate the house because of the possibility of a structural roof collapse.
The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire was conducted by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office criminal investigative division and the Tri-Community Fire Department. Investigators from both agencies found the cause to be the careless use of fireworks that ignited the roof of the home by accident.
Total loss value was estimated to be $700,000.