16-Year-Old Charged With Arson After Mobile Home Fire in Northern Iredell County

In Iredell County, North Carolina, a 16-year-old adolescent faces arson charges following a fire that obliterated a mobile residence in the northern region of the county earlier this week, as reported by Sheriff Darren Campbell.

Deputies from the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office promptly reacted to a report of a dubious fire at approximately 4:11 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7, at a dwelling on Butch Branch Road. Upon their arrival, local firefighting teams had already extinguished the flames, though the mobile home had suffered irreparable damage, Campbell explained.

An examination by the Iredell County Fire Marshal’s Office suggested that the fire had been deliberately ignited. Subsequently, detectives and forensic experts attended the scene, gathered evidence, and initiated interviews with residents in the vicinity.

Additionally, scrutinizing footage from nearby surveillance cameras unveiled a male individual fleeing shortly after the fire commenced. The detectives pinpointed the suspect as a 16-year-old resident in the neighborhood, Sheriff Campbell disclosed. The teenager was located, interrogated, and eventually confessed to initiating the fire during discussions with detectives, according to the sheriff’s office.

The case is under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, with legal actions being pursued through the juvenile justice system. Due to the suspect’s status as a minor, their identity remains undisclosed.

The investigation is still in progress, with support from entities such as Union Grove Fire & Rescue, the Iredell County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Campbell commended the prompt cooperation between local fire departments and investigators, emphasizing the seriousness with which such incidents are treated. Individuals with relevant information regarding the incident are encouraged to reach out to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office at (704) 878-3180.