Fire near Townville was arson

 An investigation has disclosed that an early morning fire near Townville was deliberately set, and authorities are appealing to the public for information that can solve the crime. Fire fighters were alerted around one o’clock Monday morning to a house fire in the Timberlake One community in southern Oconee. Emergency crews found the fire quickly spreading, but were able to bring it under control in about 15 minutes. Once they determined no one was inside the structure, they turned their attention to determining the cause. Oconee Fire Chief Charlie King says a team of specially-trained fire fighters and sheriff’s deputies interviewed neighbors and dug for several hours through the debris and determined the home fire was deliberately set. Anyone with information that can help solve the house fire is asked to call Oconee Crime Stoppers at 864/638-7867 or the Arson Hotline at 1-800/92-ARSON.