Two juveniles are facing aggravated arson charges in connection with a series of deadly fires that swept through Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in late November.
District Attorney General James Dunn said other charges also could be filed against the juveniles, and they could be tried as adults, CNN reported. The youths charged were from Tennessee but not from Sevier County where the fires began. Few specifics about how the fires were started or about the juveniles were released.
The fires started in the Chimney Tops area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Nov. 23 and were blown into the Gatlinburg area by hurricane-force winds in the area a few days later.
The fires killed 14 people and injured 134, burning more than 1,600 buildings including homes, churches, and park areas in the popular tourist destination that is home to Dollywood amusement park.
According to Fox8, many businesses remained closed early this week, but owners were cleaning up and hoped to reopen soon. The area had been evacuated while the fires threatened, but now that the flames are mostly contained, some areas are beginning to look ahead to the future. Most of the businesses on the main downtown strip of Gatlinburg were not burned.
Heavy rains were instrumental in extinguishing much of the fire, and it was 64 percent contained as of Wednesday, fire officials told CNN.
Dunn said it is possible others could be charged in the fire if more facts come to light, and that the investigation is ongoing, the AP reported.
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