Jefferson County authorities are filing arson charges against a juvenile today accused of setting fires at two houses in Empire.

The 16-year-old boy, who was in the junior-firefighters program in Empire, was arrested at the scene of a house fire on Sunday and faces two counts of arson.

Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said he arrested the juvenile with a hose in hand, putting out the blaze he allegedly started.

The teen is also suspected of setting fire to a mobile home last week in the village. Sunday's blaze was the third house fire in Empire in a month.

Seventeen fire departments were called to 153 Nessley St. about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, and the vacant house was fully engulfed, fire officials said.

The fire was so intense that Empire Fire Department depleted its water supply and called for the county tanker task force.

"We believe it started in the rear of the building, and spread up to the upper floor," said Chief Randy Westbrook, of Empire Volunteer Fire Department. "Right now, we're just surrounding it and pouring a lot of water on it."

Neighbors watched as firefighters attacked the blaze, and the homeowner told NEWS9 she had just put the house up for sale.

"I'm hoping they can get him some help and just thank God that no one got hurt or anything like that," said Elmer Tice, a neighbor.

Neighbors said they were scared, and arsons aren't common in the small town.

"You wonder why people do things. I don't understand it," said another neighbor, Travis Weaver. "I can't answer for him but just pray for their family, and obviously I'm sure they're hurting, too."

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