Sherwood House Fire Raises Suspicions for Family, Neighbors
By: Josh Berry
Updated: September 14, 2012
There were more than wildfires burning Monday (7/30).
Firefighters in Sherwood said one home is a complete loss.
There were no injuries and fire crews put the fire our fairly quickly, but the scene took what some call a strange turn.
The fire department said they knew what started the fire but couldn't comment.
When they finished they're work, Sherwood police put crime tape up. While they were vary vague as to why, it's something even the fire department said doesn't usually happen.
Now the family of the homeowner is left to wonder.
Louis Austin Senior stood by while fire crews rummaged through what's left of his son's home.
The homeowner, Louis Austin Junior, was out of town when fire ripped through his Sherwood home.
The Sherwood Fire Department said it was a total loss.
"It was a big fire," said Battalion Chief Mark Mayhan.
Crews said they got a hold of it quickly, but once they did, Sherwood Police took over, bordering the property with crime tape.
Neighbors said they were a bit uneasy about the possible origins of the fire.
When asked if there was anything suspicious to the fire, one neighbor explained how he heard a delivery truck pull up.
He said, "I heard what I thought was a small explosion or pop right after the delivery truck left."
Austin Senior however, didn't see any reason why someone would have intentionally done something like this.
"No I don't think Louis has any enemies," he said. "Not that I know anything about."
In most fires we've covered, crews will usually give an early estimate as to what they think may have started the fire. This time however, they wouldn't. They also wouldn't comment on why police took over and crime tape surrounded the home.
When asked about the fire or why it became a crime scene, Battalion Chief Mayhan said, "I can't comment on that. It's under investigation."
The family of the homeowner said they were kept in the dark about most of it.
Even as they stood behind crime tape, they said police searched through the homeowner's safe, and what were once locked cars.
"No they haven't told us anything... I'm just sitting here waiting," Austin Sr. said. "Hoping somebody would come tell us something but nobody said nothing."
The crime tape is no longer up but the fire department said it's still under investigation by the police department, and they can't comment on cause.
Firefighters in Sherwood said one home is a complete loss.
There were no injuries and fire crews put the fire our fairly quickly, but the scene took what some call a strange turn.
The fire department said they knew what started the fire but couldn't comment.
When they finished they're work, Sherwood police put crime tape up. While they were vary vague as to why, it's something even the fire department said doesn't usually happen.
Now the family of the homeowner is left to wonder.
Louis Austin Senior stood by while fire crews rummaged through what's left of his son's home.
The homeowner, Louis Austin Junior, was out of town when fire ripped through his Sherwood home.
The Sherwood Fire Department said it was a total loss.
"It was a big fire," said Battalion Chief Mark Mayhan.
Crews said they got a hold of it quickly, but once they did, Sherwood Police took over, bordering the property with crime tape.
Neighbors said they were a bit uneasy about the possible origins of the fire.
When asked if there was anything suspicious to the fire, one neighbor explained how he heard a delivery truck pull up.
He said, "I heard what I thought was a small explosion or pop right after the delivery truck left."
Austin Senior however, didn't see any reason why someone would have intentionally done something like this.
"No I don't think Louis has any enemies," he said. "Not that I know anything about."
In most fires we've covered, crews will usually give an early estimate as to what they think may have started the fire. This time however, they wouldn't. They also wouldn't comment on why police took over and crime tape surrounded the home.
When asked about the fire or why it became a crime scene, Battalion Chief Mayhan said, "I can't comment on that. It's under investigation."
The family of the homeowner said they were kept in the dark about most of it.
Even as they stood behind crime tape, they said police searched through the homeowner's safe, and what were once locked cars.
"No they haven't told us anything... I'm just sitting here waiting," Austin Sr. said. "Hoping somebody would come tell us something but nobody said nothing."
The crime tape is no longer up but the fire department said it's still under investigation by the police department, and they can't comment on cause.
