Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Firefighters charged with arson
Alleghany County authorities have arrested two firefighters in a string of arsons that spanned two counties over the past year.
Nicholas S. Brackenridge, 21, of Clifton Forge, and Christopher "Scotty" Boyd, 19, of Iron Gate each face one count of arson and one count of conspiracy to commit arson, said Sgt. Dwaine Paxton of the Alleghany County Sheriff's Office.
Brackenridge is a member of the Clifton Forge Volunteer Fire Department. Boyd is a member of the Iron Gate Volunteer Fire Department.
The charges stem from an Oct. 16 fire at an unoccupied house in the 2400 block of Sulphur Springs Road, Paxton said.
Investigators have linked that blaze to seven other arsons -- four in Alleghany County, one in Clifton Forge and two in Botetourt County -- and an attempted arson in Iron Gate. All of the buildings were unoccupied. No charges have been brought in those incidents.
Authorities also plan to charge an 18-year-old man, who had been a junior firefighter at the Iron Gate department, according to Paxton. Paxton did not identify the 18-year-old because he was 17 at the time of the incidents.
Nicholas S. Brackenridge, 21, of Clifton Forge, and Christopher "Scotty" Boyd, 19, of Iron Gate each face one count of arson and one count of conspiracy to commit arson, said Sgt. Dwaine Paxton of the Alleghany County Sheriff's Office.
Brackenridge is a member of the Clifton Forge Volunteer Fire Department. Boyd is a member of the Iron Gate Volunteer Fire Department.
The charges stem from an Oct. 16 fire at an unoccupied house in the 2400 block of Sulphur Springs Road, Paxton said.
Investigators have linked that blaze to seven other arsons -- four in Alleghany County, one in Clifton Forge and two in Botetourt County -- and an attempted arson in Iron Gate. All of the buildings were unoccupied. No charges have been brought in those incidents.
Authorities also plan to charge an 18-year-old man, who had been a junior firefighter at the Iron Gate department, according to Paxton. Paxton did not identify the 18-year-old because he was 17 at the time of the incidents.
