(From the Ohio State Fire Marshal)

Investigators with the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal have ruled a residential fire in Sandusky County as arson and are now seeking tips from the public to identify those responsible.

At 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28 and again at 3:03 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 29, the Bradner Fire Department, along with other mutual-aid departments and the Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residential structure fire at 6638 W. State Route 6 in Gibsonburg.

When crews responded to the initial call on Sunday, they found smoke coming from the two-story, single-family home. After entering the home, they found a fire in one of the interior rooms and extinguished the fire without further incident.

Early Monday morning, when crews were called to the home a second time, they encountered the home engulfed in flames. The wind-driven fire burned the home to total collapse.

It was later determined that the home was unoccupied and that all of the utilities to the home were disconnected. 

Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigations Bureau (FEIB) responded to the scene and determined both fire were intentionally set. The FEIB is investigating along with the Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office and the Bradner Fire Department.

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered by the Blue Ribbon Arson Committee for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the State Fire Marshal’s tip line at 800-589-2728 All tips will be thoroughly investigated.