Jefferson arsonists charged in Burke
By Elizabeth Billips Associate Editor

Three Jefferson County inmates have been charged with setting a string of fires in Burke County.

Brandon Atkinson, 22, and Tara Renee Norton, 18, both of Blythe and Anthony Carl Hobbs, 19, of Matthews were extradited to Burke County Sunday on charges of arson in the second degree.

The trio had been behind bars in Jefferson County since mid- March when they were arrested for at least five counts of arson each.

In the three months before their arrests, firefighters extinguished 35 mysterious fires in Jefferson a Burke counties.

In Burke County alone, seven fires were set in Hephzibah and Keysville March 14-17.

The fires stopped when the three were taken into custody.

According to EMA Chief Rusty Sanders, both Atkinson and Hobbs are charged with three counts of arson in the second degree in Burke County. Investigators believe they are responsible for structure fires on Corley Road, Spring Hill Church Road and Highway 88 in Keysville.

Norton is charged with two counts of arson in the second degree in connection to the latter two.

Chief Sanders said more charges are pending as arson investigators continue to look into the four remaining fires.