Press Releases

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that two different yard fires in Jefferson were intentionally set and have been ruled acts of arson. 

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that Phillip Eckert, 53, died in a camper fire off of Highway 520 near the line between Terrell and Webster counties. The fire was reported to local authorities around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, December 14.  

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that his State Fire Investigations Unit is looking into a fire at the Airport Entertainment Complex in Claxton. The fire occurred on Sunday, December 6, around 2:00 a.m. at the complex off of Highway 301 in Evans County.

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that Kevin Lee Botsford, 56, passed away yesterday in an accidental fire off of Highway 19 in Zebulon. The deadly fire occurred in a duplex at 5343 US Highway 19 and was reported by a neighbor.

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that an automotive shop fire in Swainsboro is being investigated by state and local authorities as both an arson and a burglary. The fire occurred around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 9, at Rusty’s Nut Garage in Emanuel County.

Commissioner John F. King’s State Fire Investigations Unit announced today that a fire at 2339 U.S. Highway 280 in Evans County has been ruled an act of arson. The fire occurred around 11:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 3.

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King issued the following statement today regarding his recent deployment to the Navajo Nation in his National Guard capacity in the ongoing fight against COVID-19: 

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that John Ransom Terzia, 34, has been arrested and charged with Arson, Aggravated Assault, and Illegal Dumping. State and local investigators suspect that there are more charges to come after this fire at 4308 Belair Frontage Road in Augusta.

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King issued the following statement today encouraging fire safety during the winter weather months. The week of Dec. 7-11 has been named Winter Weather Preparedness Week by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that Charles Mason, 24, has been arrested for Arson in the 2nd Degree in connection with a Wheeler County fire. The fire occurred around 1:00 a.m. on Monday, December 7, at the intersection of U.S. 280 and First Street in Glenwood.