College Park Fire Rescue is turning to neighbors for backup after a months-long string of home fires in the Ward 1 neighborhood near John Calvin Avenue and Victoria Street. The fires, which officials say began in December 2025, appear to have started in crawl spaces beneath several houses, prompting investigators to walk the blocks and pull any video they can find.
According to CBS Atlanta, the Fire Marshal's Office reported seven structural fires in the tight cluster around John Calvin Avenue and Victoria Street. A notice posted on the department's social-media pages asked neighbors to comb through doorbell-camera and home-surveillance footage from Dec. 31, Feb. 3, March 1, April 24, June 12 and last Monday (July 6), adding, "we need our community's eyes and ears."
Investigation and local response
Local station Atlanta News First reported that investigators believe the pattern points to arson. Since December, six fires have involved three homes along John Calvin Avenue and Victoria Street, and two of those houses were vacant. Deputy Chief Randall Slaughter told the station, "In my 36 years of fighting fire, that's a lot more than a coincidence," and said crews are determined to stop whoever is setting the blazes before anyone gets hurt.
How residents can help
Investigators are pressing neighbors to review any doorbell or surveillance footage from the listed dates and to reach out if they spot suspicious activity, according to CBS Atlanta. Officials are also urging homeowners to secure open crawl spaces or lattice skirting and, where possible, keep those areas well lit to lower the risk of future incidents.
Reward and who to call
The Georgia Arson Control program offers rewards for tips and runs a 24/7 hotline. In past cases, the group has offered up to $10,000 for information that leads to arrests. For local assistance, the City of College Park lists the Fire Department non-emergency number as (404) 766-8248 and the public-safety headquarters at 3737 College St, College Park, GA, according to the City of College Park Fire Department.
Neighbors on edge
Neighbors told Atlanta News First that nerves are frayed. Angela Johnson said smoke alarms jolted her and her son awake during a recent fire and credited the detectors with saving their lives, explaining, "If it was not for our fire detectors, we would have been God knows what." Officials say they are following up on leads and urging anyone with video, information or tips to contact investigators or call the arson hotline.
