Electricity thief may have started Macon house fire

Someone trying to steal electricity may have caused a fire at a vacant house Tuesday morning near downtown Macon.

Macon-Bibb County firefighters were called to the 500 block of Edgewood Avenue near Third Street at about 7:20 a.m.

Crews arrived to find a power line arcing at a boarded-up house. Flames shot through the roof.

Arson investigator Sgt. Ben Gleaton said he did not think the house was deliberately set on fire but is investigating the cause.

“Somebody had been stealing power at some time, but I’m not yet sure that’s a contributing factor,” Gleaton said.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Macon Regional CrimeStoppers at (877) 68-CRIME or the Georgia Arson Hotline at (800) 282-5804.