Miss. Firefighters Confess to Arson

Feb. 26, 2015
"They didn't put a whole lot of thought into this," the Itawamba County sheriff said.

Three Itawamba County volunteer firefighters were arrested and charged with arson.

Officials allege that Dennis Howery, and Tristen Loague, both 19, and Collin Jones, 20 entered a mobile home around 1 a.m. Sunday and set several fires.

"They didn't put a whole lot of thought into this," Itawamba County Sheriff Chris Dickinson told WTVA.com. Their goal was to "be the heroes of their station."

Officials said the firefighters called 911 from their cellphone and left footprints.

A deputy was nearby when the fire was called in and arrived to find several small fires in the home.

"He [the officer] obviously realized we had an arson on our hands right away."

Deputies said the three confessed when asked about setting the fires.

"It may be even luckier that they were caught on their first attempt." 

The judge set bond at $10,000 for each sand said they could face 20 years in prison, plus fines.

"You don't have to start a fire yourself and then go put the fire out to prove that you're capable of doing this job," said Dickinson.

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