By ED BALDRIDGE
ed.baldridge@newssun.com
LAKE PLACID -- Suspicious activity before a house fire Friday night has prompted the State Fire Marshall to suspect arson.
A fire that started just after 10 p.m. at the house owned by Wayne Cook and located at 3101 Lake June Blvd. resulted in a total loss, according to friends of the family.
Peggy Gray, who knows the family through her grandson, said that the neighbor behind the house reported hearing a splash in the pool around 10:15 p.m. and called the authorities when she saw flames a few moments later.
Gray also told the News-Sun that some jewelry, guns and other items were missing from the home.
Gray said that the neighbor saw individuals "crouching around the outside" and reported that a gas can had been thrown into the pool.
"Wayne was on a fishing trip somewhere towards Sarasota," Gray said.
"He lives there alone, and Justin visits on the weekend, and Wayne's son Justin was up in Frostproof, so no one was at home. It looked like they broke into the shed behind the house and took a gas can from there," Gray added.
"Wayne returned around midnight, and was just devastated," Gray said.
Additionally, Gray said that a gun, that did not belong to Cook, was found across the street from the home by sheriff's deputies, but no other information was available.
"The house was a total loss, Wayne could not salvage anything. We took him some clothes, but he will have to replace everything," Gray said.
A call to the State Fire Marshall was not returned at press time.
Anyone who has information about the fire should call the State Fire Marshall's Office at 863-679-4180.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 - www.newssun.com/1028-eb-lake-placid-fire