Christmas Eve residential fire remains under investigation

The cause of a house fire Wednesday on Green Garden Lane is still under investigation but appears to be suspicious, according to the Culpeper Fire Department.

A blue tarp blanketed the roof Friday where a blaze burned a hole on Christmas Eve. The fire started around 1:40 p.m., gutting the one-story brick home.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, which was for sale for $269,000, is listed to a Abed Jamil.

Jamil could not be reached for comment.

Culpeper Co. 1 Chief Stacy Carpenter said the fire started close to a bathroom near the center of the house. When asked if the home was a loss, he said, “What wasn’t damaged by fire was damaged by smoke.”

He added that the home’s two residents were not present when the fire started.

Jimmy Butler, who lives across the street on Bradford Road, said he didn’t realize his neighbor’s home was on fire until he heard sirens.

“There were about six or seven trucks up there when I looked outside,” he said.

Another neighbor reported the blaze.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or