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Reports of gunfire at house fire on the west side

Posted at 1:29 AM, May 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-23 10:41:11-04

What Tucson Firefighters thought was a routine house fire led to a police investigation.

Tucson Fire responded to a 911 call with reports of smoke coming from the front door of a house on the westside just after 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

As crews prepared to fight the fire near the 1200 Block of South Lynx Dr., a neighbor informed officials that he had heard gunshots before the crew arrived on scene. 

Because the gunshots could not be confirmed, the scene was declared unsafe, requiring Tucson police to report to the scene.

Firefighters say the homeowner was acting strange. When they approached him, he was wearing a bullet proof vest and armed with a handgun. Firefighters were able to talk the homeowner into surrendering the firearm.

Paramedics took the homeowner to the paramedic truck for an evaluation and he was later taken into custody by TPD.

The other firefighters were able to extinguish the small fire in the bedroom. There were two dogs found in the home but only one was saved. Animal Control will be assisting.

An assault rifle was also found in the home.

Tucson Fire Investigators are working with Tucson Police to determine a cause.

TPD is investigating the reports of shots fired.