Two Fayette County men have been charged with arson in relation to a May 20 house fire on Lester Road.
Arrested May 23 on first-degree arson charges were Gerald Stout Bryan, 76, and David Gerald Samuel Bryan, 25, said Fayette County Sheriff Barry Babb. The men were arrested following an investigation conducted by the Fayette Fire Marshall’s Office and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.
Though both men are resided at the home, neither was present when the initial call was made to Fayette County 911.
Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services (FES) spokesman Donnie Davis said FES units with assistance from the City of Fayetteville Fire Dept. responded to a residential structure fire at 538 Lester Road in unincorporated Fayette County within nine minutes. A citizen reported the fire to the Fayette County 911 Center and reported smoke exiting the home while driving by the residence, Davis said.
Upon arrival, firefighters reported heavy black smoke bellowing from the home and fire visible inside the structure. Fire suppression utilizing an interior attack was initiated and the fire was extinguished. The fire caused moderate damage to the first and second floors of the residence. At the time of the fire, the residence was unoccupied, Davis said.
Investigators were notified of some suspicious findings and requested at the scene. Arson investigators subsequently collected evidence and conducted interviews and determined the fire to have been intentionally set. There were no injuries associated with the fire or its suppression, Davis said.
