Suspect Arrested, Charged with Arson in Smith County Fire

TYLER – The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office has arrested Walter Ray Jones Sr., 59, of Tyler, on a warrant for arson. This is in connection with a fire earlier this month. The charge is classified as a state jail felony, according to a news release from Fire Marshal Jay Brooks. On February 9, several Smith County fire departments and the Fire Marshal’s Office responded to a report of a grass fire on North Shore Drive in southwestern Smith County. When they arrived, firemen also found a house on fire. The house fir e was determined to be caused by the uncontrolled grass fire which allegedly began as a controlled burn set by Mr. Jones to clean up another property, according to Brooks.

This is an unfortunate event which could have been prevented with more care. While it is not illegal in unincorporated areas of the county to burn natural growth from the property in which the burning is taking place, you are responsible for your fire at all times, said Deputy Fire Marshal Heath Hawley.

Residents are urged to remain with any fires while they are burning. Brooks says you should always maintain defensible space around the fire and keep a water hose or some other method of extinguishing a fire readily available. “While we have had plenty of rain this winter, the air is typically very dry and the ground cover is dormant this time of year,” added Brooks. “These two conditions lead to easy ignition and rapid fire spread. If you have a fire get out of control, please contact 911 immediately.”