Batesville Police say charges are expected to be filed against one adult and two juveniles in the string of Saturday night fires they say were intentionally set.
Batesville Fire Chief Mark McCollum said this morning that the trio of Saturday night fires caused minor damage to two structures and total damage to a third.
The chief told White River Now’s Gary Bridgman that his department was first called to a two-story house at the corner of Chestnut and Central Avenue — a house many call the former “Monday home.” (Pictured above.)
McCollum said as firemen arrived, the fire was already coming through the roof, and the structure would end up as a total loss. Firemen did keep the fire from spreading.
The second fire was at a home on Morrow Street, where minor damage occurred.
The third fire was at the former Heasley’s/Ozark Furniture building on North Central Avenue. The chief said firemen kept the fire to one corner of the upstairs and only minor damage. (Pictured below.)
According to a statement from the Batesville Police Department, patrol officers noted three juvenile individuals in the area of at least two of the fires on Saturday night. Investigators later located the individuals and interviewed them and their guardians at the Batesville Police Department.
Case files will be submitted to the 16th Judicial District prosecuting attorney’s office to review charges. The statement said it is expected that at least two juveniles and one adult could be charged with intentionally setting the fires.
No individuals or first responders were injured during the fires.
The chief said firefighters had all three fires under control by 10:30 p.m. and were able to leave the scene of the last fire by 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
Chief McCollum said several area fire departments, including Northside, Ruddell Hill, Bethesda, Cave City, and Newport, came to assist. Vital Link and the Independence County Office of Emergency Management were also on the scene for assistance if needed.
Regarding the department responding to three fires quickly, the fire chief said: “We were about spread as thin as we could be. It’s good to know we have other area fire departments that are willing to help.”
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