News Nearby: Sunday Blaze May Have Been Arson

Fire officials believe an early morning fire at a South Norcross Tucker Road apartment complex was an act of arson.

Capt. Tommy Rutledge of the Gwinnett Fire Department said an object was thrown through a bedroom window before fire erupted in a ground-floor apartment at Highland Walk Apartments, near Tucker's border with Norcross. The fire occurred around 4 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 12.

No injuries were reported. Police officers were evacuating the building as fire crews arrived.

"This intentional act could have caused serious injury or even death to the occupants who were asleep inside the apartment at the time. We are fortunate that no one was hurt and that firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire," Rutledge said in an email.

Investigators believe an “incendiary device [was] used to intentionally cause a fire,” Rutledge added. No information was released on the device, nor a description of a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Gwinnett Fire Investigations Section at 678.518.4890 or the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1.800.282.5804. There will be a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for arson.

The fire caused extensive damage to the apartment, and moderate damage to a room in the apartment directly above.