Tenn. Fire Chief Charged With Arson

AP ^ | 10/24/6

[SmithL]

Tiptonville, Tenn. -- The city's fire chief and three volunteer firefighters, including the chief's grandson, were arrested on arson charges stemming from a string of fires over the past two years.

The four men, all members of Tiptonville Volunteer Fire Department, were arrested Monday and expected in court later Tuesday.

Police Chief Norman Rhodes said the investigation had been going on for about two years

"We've been pretty sure who it was for about the last year," Rhodes said. He didn't give a motive for the arsons beyond saying the suspects had formed a clique.

Fire Chief James Blackburn, who is also superintendent of the city water plant, was charged with 10 counts of arson. His grandson, Brandon Blackburn, faces three arson counts. Also arrested on arson charges were firefighters Floyd Joe Kilburn, facing four counts, and Chris Burrus, facing two counts.

The police chief had called on the state for help with the arson investigation, and Rhodes said James Blackburn, as fire chief, knew about the probe.

[SmithL]

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

[cripplecreek]

Actually I think arson among firefighters is fairly common, what's unusual is a group of them doing it together.

[wideawake]

It's not uncommon for volunteer firefighters, bored by inaction, to set abandoned buildings on fire for the practice.

Also a good tip: if you buy a property and want to do a teardown of the existing building to build a new structure, offer the local volunteer fire department the use of the old building for training.

They can practice chopping through walls, scaling with ladders, rescue drills, etc.

You can get a tax break big enough to cover demolition costs.

[newgeezer]

Among the buildings burned was an abandoned Victorian-style house.

Ah, so that's why the story appears in the San Francisco Chronicle. /sarc

"There have been quite a few people who have been upset because this has been going on. They haven't been able to sleep at night," state bomb and arson investigator Ron Powers said.

Were all the affected buildings abandoned? The story doesn't say. We all know fire depts. practice on abandoned buildings. Maybe the chief was unable to get permission, so he took matters into his own hands.

I'm not condoning what they did. Just curious about the motive.

[Jaysun]

Actually I think arson among firefighters is fairly common, what's unusual is a group of them doing it together.

And a guy doing it with his grandson has to be rare.

[pissant]

Friends of ALgore.

[NormsRevenge]

just trying to stay in shape?

These arrest photos provided by the Tiptonville, Tenn., Police Department show James Blackburn, Brandon Blackburn, Floyd Kilburn and Chris Burns on Monday, Oct. 23, 2006. James Blackburn, the chief of the Tiptonville Volunteer Fire Department, and the others, who are members, were arrested Monday on charges of setting a string of fires over the past two years. Brandon Blackburn is James Blackburn's grandson. (AP Photos/Tiptonville Police Department)