A former firefighter is accused of setting outside fires in Eagle Springs.
Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields announced his office received five reports of intentionally set woods fire between Feb. 16- June 15.
“Following a joint operation with the North Carolina Forestry Service, sheriff’s investigators arrested a former Eagle Springs firefighter in connection with the fires; Christian Steven Tyler Hancock, age 28, of Eagle Springs, North Carolina,” said Fields in a news advisory.
Hancock was charged with five counts of felony setting fire to woodland, one count of felony embezzlement, one count of misuse of publicly owned vehicle, and three counts of injury to trees and crops.
“Chief St Onge and members of the ESFD (Eagle Springs Fire Department) board want to ensure our community that our mission is to serve and protect our community,” said Eagle Springs Fire Department on its Facebook page. “We hold our members to the highest standard of ethical conduct at all times. We work to achieve this mission everyday. This is beyond disheartening that an individual is willing to put others at risk by his actions. I assure you this in no way reflects on the character of the men and women who serve our community every day.”
Hancock was jailed at the Moore County Detention Center under a $30,000 secured bond. He is due in court on July 13 and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
