Police and fire officials are following leads in a string of fires believed to be arson, including one at the home of the Shelby Fire and Rescue chief.
Investigators believe at least six fires were set deliberately in multiple locations in west Shelby this month. On Thursday, Shelby firefighters responded to two fires believed to be connected to this string of recent arsons. One of the fires destroyed part of the home of Shelby Fire & Rescue Chief William Hunt.
Hunt and his family were awakened Thursday morning to the sound of breaking glass.
“It was about 1 a.m., and I was in bed asleep and the kids were upstairs. Faith and I woke up about the same time,” Hunt said.
The husband and wife went to investigate the noise that was coming from the front of their home on Thompson Street. As they approached the front of the home, Hunt heard more sounds of breaking glass, then he saw a bright light. “We thought it was someone breaking in,” Hunt said. “We came in and the curtains were on fire.”