Two juveniles charged with arson in deadly Tennessee wildfires

Two juveniles were arrested Wednesday on aggravated arson charges in the Tennessee wildfires that killed 14 people, and more charges are possible, authorities said Wednesday.

The suspects weren’t identified because they’re minors. Authorities would say only that they are residents of Tennessee but not of Sevier County, where the fire caused significant damage and forced the evacuations of thousands of residents around Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Sevier County District Attorney James Dunn said the suspects were being held pending a detention hearing at which a juvenile court judge will decide bond. He said said the suspects could be charged as adults and that other charges were “on the table.”

The Chimney Tops 2 fire, which started Nov. 23, has burned more than 17,000 acres in and around the national park and was still only 64 percent contained after two weeks, the joint federal-state-local incident command team said Wednesday.

IMAGE: Tennessee wildfire damage

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