2 Juveniles Charged With Arson in Deadly Tennessee Wildfire
Two juveniles were charged with arson on Wednesday in connection with the wildfire in Gatlinburg, Tenn., that killed 14 people and destroyed about 1,000 buildings last week, the authorities said.
Officials, citing restrictions against disclosing detailed information about juveniles charged in criminal proceedings, said at a news conference that the two were residents of Tennessee.
They were not from Sevier County, which includes Gatlinburg, the local district attorney general, Jimmy Dunn, said.
The juveniles’ age and gender were not released.
Additional charges are being considered, Mr. Dunn said, adding that the authorities can seek to transfer the case to adult criminal court. “Everything’s on the table,” Mr. Dunn said.
The youths were being held at a juvenile detention center. A judge was to hold a hearing within 72 hours to determine their bond status.
Officials said that the investigation by local, state and federal agencies was continuing. They declined to say whether others were being sought.
Steve Kloster, chief ranger of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, said 40 tips had been received on a hotline within minutes of it being activated.
“The public was critical in responding to that tip line and giving the investigators something to work with,” he said.
Criminal cases in national parks are ordinarily prosecuted in federal courts, but after conferring with federal prosecutors, it was decided to defer to the local authorities, Mr. Kloster said.
The fire tore through the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, forcing thousands to flee as emergency responders sought to contain the wind-whipped blaze.
Dolly Parton, the country music singer and entertainer who is from Tennessee, pledged to donate $1,000 a month to each family that was left homeless by the fire.
P.C: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/us/gatlinburg-tennessee-wildfire.html
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