Four volunteer firefighters from the Cabin Creek Volunteer Fire Department and one from East Bank's volunteer department were arrested Monday. Authorities also planned to charge two juveniles, Lewis said.
The arrests cover about half of the 23 suspicious fires to hit the area since January 2004. The remaining fires may have been accidental or set by a separate group operating an arson-for-hire scheme, Lewis said.
Most of the fires occurred in abandoned houses or condemned structures. No one was hurt.
No arrests have been made in the arson-for-hire investigation, Lewis said.
``Until we're confident that we don't have an arsonist running around in that area, this investigation is wide open,'' he said. The five volunteer firefighters may have been bored and liked ``the thrill'' of fighting fires, Lewis said.
``They are firefighters and they want to fight fires,'' Lewis said. ``Their motto up there, as we understand it, is 'we light 'em, we fight 'em.'''
Cabin Creek Volunteer Fire Department members arrested were:
- Joshua A. Harbaugh, 18, of Dry Branch, charged with five counts of first-degree arson;
- Alex R. Perdue, 18, of Cabin Creek, charged with five counts of first-degree arson and one count of second-degree arson;
- John Glenn Haymaker, 18, of Dawes, charged with four counts of first-degree arson; and
- Jeremy Issac Ferrell, 23, of Dawes, charged with one count of first-degree arson.
East Bank Volunteer Fire Department member Shane Hudnall, 24, of Cabin Creek, was arrested at the department's station, East Bank Fire Chief Bobby Shanklin said. Hudnall was charged with two counts of first-degree arson.
