Investigators say a volunteer firefighter accused of arson in North Carolina intentionally set several brush fires in rural Columbus County.
COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. — A 19-year-old volunteer firefighter is now facing criminal charges after authorities say he spent weeks intentionally setting brush fires across rural Columbus County — the same kind of fires his department is supposed to respond to.
According to court records, Tanner Reed Sykes is accused of igniting four separate fires between December and January in the Clarendon area, sending investigators on a months-long trail before finally closing in.
Officials allege the fires were deliberately started near back roads and wooded areas on multiple occasions, including a rural stretch near Walter Todd Road and Furnie Hammond Road in mid-December, a Christmas Day fire near the Lebanon Church Road area, and another blaze the following day close to MM Ray Road and Jim Jolly Road.
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Authorities said a final fire was reported in January near Peacock Road and Minos Meares Road
By late January, authorities had enough evidence to move forward.
Warrants tied to all four incidents were issued on January 29, and Sykes was arrested shortly after. He was charged with four counts related to intentionally setting fires in grass, brushland, or wooded areas.
Sykes was briefly held at the Columbus County Jail before being released after posting a $2,000 bond.
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Investigators confirmed Sykes was affiliated with the Williams Township Volunteer Fire Department.
