RANKIN COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Rankin County authorities believe a group of young people started a fire at an abandoned house that kept fire crews tied up for hours Wednesday morning.
The house, in the 100 block of Carroll Avenue near Richland, has been vacant for years. Sheriff's Department Investigator Chris Ainsworth says juveniles have vandalized it before.
The 911 call came in around 8:20 a.m. Firefighters from Richland, Florence and Cleary arrived to find lots of smoke. The fire accelerated when they gained access to the house.
A neighbor reports seeing about six juveniles leaving the house around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Detectives are getting leads by calling the schools to find out who was absent Wednesday morning.
No one was injured in the fire.
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
