WILTON, Ark. - A 27-year-old Wilton, Arkansas, man has been arrested on a first-degree criminal mischief charge for allegedly setting several vacant houses on fire early Tuesday.
Chase Hinton, 27, of Wilton is being held in the Little River County jail, said Little River County Sheriff Bobby Walraven. Other charges could be pending against Hinton.
Six vacant houses in Wilton and one vehicle were set on fire in the early morning hours of Tuesday. No one was injured.
"It appears he was just walking around setting fires. Most of the houses were older and they were all vacant," Walraven said.
Wilton Fire Department member Karen Young said firefighters were battling the first blaze when they were paged about a second fire. It was not very long before other fires were being reported.
"It was like a domino effect," Young said. "We did not get through until about 3 p.m."
Young's husband, Jim Young, is Wilton Fire Chief.
Young said the rash of structure fires is the biggest event the Wilton Fire Department has worked since 2011 when there was a 140 acre grass fire.
Eight fire departments from Little River County responded to the fires along with the Ben Lomond Fire Department from Sevier County.
"It was a joint effort with all the departments and we could not have asked for a better cooperation," Young said.
"I'm glad our fire departments in Little River County are so close-knit and they are able to help each other out," she said.
Officials and residents are also relieved a suspect is in custody, Walraven said.
"Everybody can sleep better tonight," he said.
Wilton is located just a few miles north of Ashdown on U.S. Highway 71.