2 Tennesse Volunteer Firefighters Charged with Arson of Vacant Homes

Two volunteer firefighters in southeastern Tennessee have been charged with intentionally setting a vacant house on fire and then responding to it as Mowbray Mountain Volunteer firefighters.

Hamilton County investigators arrested 19-year-old George Lewis and 18-year-old William Harris on indictments charging them with aggravated arson in a June 17 fire.

Both men were released on $5,000 bonds.

A booking officer at the Hamilton County Jail and a court clerk said records do not show that the men have hired attorneys.

A Sheriff’s Department statement said the arrests stem from an investigation into a series of vacant residential arson fires. Investigators determined that after igniting the fire in June, both Lewis and Harris responded as volunteer firefighters.