Two juveniles charged over Tennessee wildfires that killed 14 people
Updated
Authorities have charged two juveniles over an East Tennessee wildfire that killed 14 people and destroyed or damaged more than 1,700 buildings.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, local district attorney-general James Dunn and Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced the charges at a news conference, but released few other specifics about the juveniles or how the fires started.
Mr Dunn said the juveniles face aggravated arson charges in the fire in the Chimney Tops area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Amid hurricane-force winds, the fire spread to the Gatlinburg area early last week, causing widespread damage.
They are being held in a juvenile detention centre.
"Our promise is that we will do every effort to help bring closure to those who have lost so much," said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn.
Officials said state law prevented releasing more information about those charged, but the investigation was ongoing and more charges could come.
It is also possible that the case could be transferred to an adult criminal court, Mr Dunn said.
Asked if others could be charged in the fire, he repeated that "everything's on the table".
"We don't know," he said.
Karyssa Dalton, a 19-year-old whose grandmother Pamela Johnson remains missing in the blaze, said the two should be held accountable, even though they are young.
"I mean, what if somebody came through their town, and set their town on fire, and lost their loved ones, and lost all their homes?" Ms Dalton said. "It's not fair."
Great Smoky Mountains National Park chief ranger Steve Kloster said the public was "critical" in offering investigators information through a tip line.
Previously, the National Park Service said it believed the fire was intentionally lit, and set up a tip line for people to call if they hiked that trail on November 23, or knew anyone who did.
AP
Topics: arson, bushfire, united-states
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