Authorities in Covington, Tennessee, have apprehended and charged two teenagers in connection with a fire that occurred at a local law firm.
The incident took place on February 29, prompting a response from both the Covington Police Department and the Covington Fire Department to a 911 call at the Wooten Law Firm on Court Square East.
Upon arrival, firefighters worked to locate the source of the fire, which had generated smoke throughout the premises. Their search led them to discover a couch in the basement ablaze.
Fortunately, firefighters were able to swiftly extinguish the fire, resulting in minimal damage to the building and no reported injuries.
The owners of the law firm are collaborating with fire department personnel and detectives to assess the extent of the damage caused by the fire and smoke, as well as any structural issues that may have arisen.
Following an on-scene investigation, authorities determined that the fire had been deliberately set.
Covington police officers, aided by anonymous tips, identified two individuals matching the description of possible suspects. The officers located three teenagers in the vicinity of Court Square East and detained them for questioning.
Subsequently, two of the teenagers confessed to accidentally igniting the fire with a lighter before fleeing the scene on foot out of panic. The third teenager, although not involved in setting the fire, was found to have encountered the other two suspects after they had fled the basement.
The two male suspects, aged 16 and 17 and both residents of Covington, were arrested and issued juvenile summonses for aggravated arson.