Toombs County Man Arrested For Emanuel County Fire

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A Toombs County man has been arrested and charged with arson after the Georgia Forestry Commission’s investigation of a fire in Emanuel County.

On Sunday, January 11, a wildfire broke out near the intersection of Fish Whitehead and Buck Corbin Roads. As the blaze grew, the dash camera of a passerby’s vehicle recorded a suspicious vehicle fleeing the fire scene, and this evasion was reported to authorities, who soon arrived to extinguish the blaze.

The Georgia Forestry Commission was able to contain the fire before it continued to spread, and then investigated the scene, as they suspected the fire was a result of arson. Georgia Forestry Commission law enforcement officers named Phillip Jones, 49, of Vidalia, as the sole suspect in the case, and worked with the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office to arrest him on Tuesday, January 13.

“Georgia Forestry Commission’s law enforcement team is meticulous and professional, and they work hand in hand with partner agencies statewide,” emphasized Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo. “With Georgia’s wildfire potential running especially high right now, their rapid response could very well have prevented a serious disaster.”

Sabo stressed that arson is one of the leading causes of wildfires in Georgia. Those who are convicted of arson face strict penalties under Georgia law. The violation carries a sentence of up to $50,000 or one to 20 years in prison.

The motive for Jones’s fire was not shared. He now awaits the Emanuel County Grand Jury to review his case and determine whether to issue an indictment. The timeline of that review process is unknown.

Suspected arson cases and reports may be filed with the Arson Hotline at 1 (800) GA-TREES. For more information, visit Ga-Trees.org.