Gwinnett Daily Post

DULUTH -- An overnight fire at a vacant Duluth house has been ruled arson, officials said.

Gwinnett County firefighters responded to the vacant residence on the 2700 block of Cardinal Lake Circle at about 2:20 a.m. Monday, spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge said, finding flames in the basement of the two-story structure. Crews entered the home and "aggressively attacked the flames."

The fire originated in the basement and burned a hole through the floor on the main level, Rutledge said. The home is unoccupied and no one was at the scene when firefighters arrived.

By 6 a.m., fire investigators had ruled the blaze an act of arson. Rutledge disclosed few specific details.

"Fire investigators are not releasing specifics about the fire or the investigation," Rutledge said, "but did say that someone intentionally set the blaze."

Anyone with information regarding the fire should contact the Gwinnett fire department's investigations section at 678-518-4890.