Suspect set fire to four vehicles, targeted Chattanooga family

Arson tile
Arson tile

Chattanooga fire investigators are asking for the public's help identifying a suspect who set fire to four vehicles connected with one family over eight days.

Diana Morrison and her two daughters have been targeted, according to investigators, and four vehicles have been set ablaze - on Oct. 21, Oct. 22, Thursday and Friday.

Friday's fire happened around 4 a.m. and destroyed an SUV, according to the fire department.

No one has been hurt in the vehicle fires, which happened on Hickory Valley Road and 15th Avenue, and the motive for the attacks is unclear.

Firefighters ask anyone with information on the arsons to call Chattanooga police at 423-698-2525.

In an unrelated case, fire investigators also believe someone intentionally started a fire that burned down a home on Fagan Street early Friday morning.

Firefighters arrived at the fire at 4212 Fagan St. just after 5 a.m. Friday to find the house already engulfed in flames. Some firefighters went inside the house to attack the fire but were forced out when it looked like the roof of the house was about to collapse, said Capt. Randy Steele.

Firefighters also had to avoid a live power line that had fallen from the house and was stretched across the yard. The line hampered efforts to put out the fire - firefighter had to avoid the area until a technician arrived to shut down the power to that line, according to a release from Bruce Garner.

Four fire companies fought the blaze for a half-hour before finally bringing it under control. The house was empty when the fire began and no one was injured.

The house was in the middle of a renovation, and is considered a total loss, Garner said.

Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas. Follow @ShellyBradbury.

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