UPDATE: Arson Believed Cause of Christmas Day Fire

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon-Bibb Fire Department believes arson is to blame for a Christmas Day fire that destroyed a family’s home.

According to fire investigator Sgt. Ben Gleaton,  a fire was reported just before 5 Tuesday morning at a home in the 2700 block of Village Green Drive.

When firefighters arrived minutes later, the house was engulfed in flames.

The family was not home at the time.  Gleaton says it appears there was forced entry through the back door of the residence and that the home is a total loss.

If you have any information about who or what might have started the blaze, please call Crimestoppers at 1-877-68-CRIME or the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1-800-282-5804.

The GACH offers up to a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in this case.