PORT ST. LUCIE — A fire early this month that destroyed a large home east of U.S. 1 near Prima Vista Boulevard is a case of arson, and an investigation into the incident is continuing, a top St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office official said.

The early morning Dec. 4 blaze in the 1000 block of Tilton Road ravaged the home of Raymond Roddy, 60, taking at least an hour for St. Lucie County Fire District crews to get under control.

“The fire marshal has made a determination that the fire out at Tilton Road was, in fact, arson,” sheriff’s Chief Deputy Garry Wilson said late Monday. “They are not ready to identify a suspect at this time.” A deputy was dispatched to a brush fire in the area of some apartments. The deputy noticed a “large glow” east of the apartments in the sky and found Roddy’s residence engulfed in flames.
(more…)

FORT PIERCE — St. Lucie County Fire District crews Thursday morning battled a fire suspected of being arson at a rooming house under renovation, according to the Fire District. There were no injuries.

Fire District crews were called at 5:50 a.m. to the incident in the 500 block of Douglas Court and had the fire under control by 6:15 a.m.

“No one was inside at the time of the fire but it’s reported that a gentleman had been living in the home,” Fire District spokeswoman Catherine Chaney said.

The fire started in the attic and damaged about 50 percent of the structure, which does not have power.

Chaney declined to give details on what led investigators to label the cause as arson.

The property is owned by Rey Property Investors LLC, according to the St. Lucie County Property Appraiser’s Web site. The three-bedroom home was bought in December for $70,000.

By Will Greenlee, TCPalm.com

GOLDEN GATE — State fire investigators were called after five vehicles were found burning late last night and early this morning.

Residents at homes along Birch Avenue, Ellendale and Delmar Streets woke up in the dark to find their vehicles in flames, according to Martin County Sheriff’s reports.

The first fire was reported shortly before midnight on Thursday, the last at 3:30 this morning.

None of the residents reported seeing anyone near the fires. One man was able to pull out his garden hose to douse out the fire in his vehicle.