16-Year-Old Charged With Arson After Mobile Home Fire Destroys Residence in Iredell County, North Carolina

Iredell County, N.C. (Oct. 9, 2025) — A 16-year-old boy has been charged with arson after a fire destroyed a mobile home in northern Iredell County earlier this week, according to Sheriff Darren Campbell.

Deputies with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a suspicious fire around 4:11 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at a residence on Butch Branch Road. When they arrived, local fire crews had already extinguished the blaze, but the mobile home was a total loss, Campbell said.

The Iredell County Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire appeared to have been intentionally set. Detectives and crime scene investigators responded to the scene, collected evidence, and began interviewing neighbors.

Investigators also reviewed nearby surveillance footage, which showed a male suspect running from the area shortly after the fire started. Detectives identified the suspect as a 16-year-old who lives nearby, Campbell said.

The teen was located and interviewed by detectives and later admitted to starting the fire, according to the sheriff’s office.

The case is being handled in coordination with the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, and charges are being pursued through the juvenile court system. The suspect’s name has not been released because he is a minor.

The investigation remains ongoing. Agencies assisting in the response included Union Grove Fire & Rescue, the Iredell County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

Campbell praised the quick collaboration between local fire departments and investigators.

“Our investigators acted swiftly to identify the suspect and ensure the community’s safety,” Campbell said. “We take incidents like this very seriously.”

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office at (704) 878-3180.