Lavonia Woman Charged With Arson in Sunday’s House Fire in Lavonia

Lavonia Police and Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s office have arrested a woman in connection with the early morning house fire in Lavonia on Sunday.

According to Lavonia Police Lt. Wayne Mitchum, investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s office have arrested 51-year-old Christie Dutton of Lavonia.

According to Lavonia Fire Captain Daniel White, it happened in the early morning hours on Sunday at a home on Vickery St. in Lavonia. He said next-door neighbors saw the fire and called 911

Lavonia Police say one of the two who escaped the fire was Dutton.

White said Dutton and the other individual were rushed to Grady Hospital in Atlanta by Franklin County EMS for treatment of smoke inhalation and later released.

On January 29, Lavonia Firefighters were called to that same house on a report that a dresser was on fire, but White said the residents had put the fire out by the time Firefighters arrived.

Mitchum said due to the circumstances surrounding both incidents, the State Fire Marshal’s office was contacted to conduct an investigation into the cause.

Inspectors from the State Fire Marshal’s office were on the scene early, along with their canine, by 11 a.m. Sunday morning, and determined that the fire was the result of arson.

The Lavonia Police assisted the Fire Marshal by securing the scene during the investigation.

Mitchum said later, Lavonia Police investigators spoke with a family member of Dutton’s, and she came to the Police Department.

After being interviewed by State Fire Marshal investigators and Lavonia Police, Dutton was arrested and charged with Arson in the 1st Degree.