On Monday May 3 at 2:44 am, the Clayton Fire Department was summoned to Skygrove Drive in the Glen Laurel subdivision upon a report of fire at a house under construction. When Clayton Police and Fire units arrived, the house under construction at 151 Skygrove Drive was was fully involved with flames through the roof. The adjacent house under construction at 137 Skygrove Drive was also found to have an intensifying fire. The fires at both structures were extinguished, but each sustained extensive damage and were essentially destroyed. Monetary damage estimates and owner/contractor information are unavailable at this time. The Clayton Fire Department was supported by the Wilson’s Mills Fire Department and the Archer Lodge Fire Department in fighting the fires as well as Clayton and Johnston County EMS.

The Clayton Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco and Firearms are investigating to determine the cause and origin of the fire, along with the Fire Marshalls of Clayton and Johnston County. The conflagrations are believed to have been set intentionally, as these are the sixth and seventh buildings under construction in the vicinity that investigators believe were intentionally burned since October 2009.

Anyone that may have seen any suspicious vehicles or persons in the area between 1:00 am to 5:00 am on Monday (or have any information about the fire) is asked to call the Clayton Police Department at 919-553-4611 919-553-4611 or Clayton Crime Stoppers at 919-359-TIPZ (8479). A reward is available for confidential information that leads to an arrest.