Cumming fire may have been electrical

CUMMING - The wind-swept fire that destroyed four houses in a Cumming subdivision ten days ago may have been electrical in nature.

Capt. Jason Shivers of the Forsyth County Fire Department said Monday one of his people was told the day of the fire that an occupant of the house where the fire started saw flames around an electrical outlet which burned through the wall, igniting pine straw. Fire Chief Danny Bowman said at the time of the fire that the flames spread quickly in all directions. A young skateboarder told firemen he saw the flames between two houses.

Capt. Shivers emphasized, however, that the official determination of the cause of the fire is still pending. He said that has been slowed by the number of victims, adding that there are also five insurance companies who are very interested in the final ruling.

The flames, pushed along by 25 mph winds, quickly spread and before they could be contained, destroyed four houses in the Bethelview Downs Subdivision and damaged four others. Damages were placed at about one million dollars.