A Cobb County man is behind bars after investigators say he lit a series of small fires along Barrett Parkway, including outside a McDonald’s and a Kirkland’s near busy interstate exits. The fires did not cause major damage and no one was hurt, but firefighters warned the flames could have easily spread to nearby buildings if they had burned unchecked. The suspect, identified by authorities as Ligon Durham, was arrested Wednesday and is being held without bond on arson related charges.
Sgt. Eric Smith told Channel 2 that an on duty Cobb County officer stumbled onto the situation while out on patrol. “He actually noticed a small brush fire, he exited his patrol car and began to put the fire out,” Smith said, adding that the officer then spotted a second blaze and helped knock that one down too. According to WSB-TV, witness tips that came in afterward helped point investigators to Durham as the suspect.
Authorities say they have footage and witness tips
Investigators say at least one of the incidents was caught on security camera video, which they are now using as part of the case. The arrest warrant alleges that Durham set a stack of papers, trash and other discarded items on fire in the middle of the night along the Barrett Parkway corridor. As reported by WSB-TV, the warrant links him to multiple fires in Cobb County, as well as additional incidents in Kennesaw and Marietta, some of them near interstate exits. Durham is charged with arson, arson of lands and obstruction and remains in the Cobb County jail with no bond.
Why officials flagged the danger
Fire officials stressed that even small brush fires along commercial strips or near highway ramps can turn serious in a hurry. The U.S. Fire Administration notes that fires in the wildland urban interface, and even seemingly minor outdoor blazes, can jump to nearby homes and businesses through direct flames and wind blown embers, increasing the danger to the public and to firefighters. Local crews told reporters the Barrett Parkway fires could easily have reached a building if they had not been spotted and doused so quickly.
A wider pattern across metro Atlanta
Durham’s arrest lands in the middle of a broader wave of arson investigations around metro Atlanta. In DeKalb County, authorities recently charged a suspect in connection with a string of roughly 15 grass and brush fires in one neighborhood, according to CBS Atlanta. Cobb County has also dealt with high profile arson cases tied to protests and related indictments earlier this spring, detailed in coverage of an arson rap in a fiery Cop City contractor attack. Law enforcement officials say quick calls from witnesses, along with surveillance footage, are key tools for keeping small fires from turning into major emergencies.
Cobb County police are asking anyone with information about the Barrett Parkway fires to contact the department. Durham’s case will move through the county court system, and investigators say additional charges are possible as they continue to review video, witness statements and other evidence.
