More than a dozen cars burned at 2 locations in DeKalb

DeKalb County officials are investigating fires that burned at least 14 vehicles at two different locations Friday morning.

At both, multiple vehicles were burned. Officials have not said if they believe the fires were intentionally set, but it does not appear the two scenes are connected.

“At this time it just seems like it’s just a coincidence, but we may later find out that it’s not,” DeKalb County fire spokesman Capt. Dion Bentley told AJC.com.

DeKalb County firefighter Joseph Brown works to put out a smoldering car parked at an auto body shop lot near Lithonia.

Two cars were found on fire near Shoal Creek Park on Glenwood Road around 5 a.m. Ten miles to the east and around the same time, at least 12 more were burned in a lot attached to an auto body shop on Stone Mountain Lithonia Road just north of the Lithonia city limits.

Two cars were burned at Shoal Creek Park in Decatur.

Bentley said when crews arrived at the Stone Mountain Lithonia Road location, five to seven vehicles were fully engulfed in flames. They tried to use hand lines, but the blaze proved too much, and they resorted to the deck gun on the front of the fire truck.

Once the flames were somewhat under control, Bentley said they sprayed foam to put them out. Investigators don’t know how it started or if anyone was on the property Friday morning.

“It is still under investigation,” he said. “The business owner stated these cars haven’t moved in a while.”

Crews are still working to put out hot spots at the car lot. No other details were released about the fires at Shoal Creek Park.