Man from Iron County charged with arson after fire at home

Local Man Charged with Aggravated Arson After Allegedly Setting Home on Fire

A man from Iron County is now facing serious legal consequences after being accused of setting his own home on fire. The incident occurred early Sunday morning in Cedar City, Utah, and has led to an aggravated arson charge, which is classified as a first-degree felony.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Cedar City Police and firefighters were called to a structure fire around 1 a.m. upon arrival, the scene was marked by unusual circumstances. One of the supervisors at the scene noted that the property resident, Tyson Hopkins, 38, made statements that raised suspicion. Hopkins claimed he had been away from the home for a few days, but a neighbor contradicted this, stating that he had been in and out of the house on the day of the fire.

Hopkins was notified about the fire at approximately 1:30 a.m. and told police he was heading to Sanpete County and had stopped to put gas in his car when he was informed. When he returned to the scene, he reportedly said things like, “I wish you guys would just let it burn” and asked about the procedures for preserving evidence. He also seemed eager to leave the location.

During questioning, Hopkins denied any knowledge of the fire or involvement in starting it. However, officers obtained a search warrant for his vehicle and found a significant amount of clean, loose clothing and a stack of framed and loose photos. These items were later used as evidence in the investigation.

When Hopkins was taken to the Cedar City Police Department for further questioning, he provided a timeline of his activities before the fire. Initially, he claimed he had stopped at a gas station to buy cigarettes. However, security footage revealed that he had actually purchased two red fuel cans and filled them up.

After leaving the gas station, Hopkins returned shortly after to purchase more fuel for the cans. When shown the security footage, he admitted to lying about his actions. He then confessed to buying the fuel and taking it back to his home, where he lit it on fire using a pallet.

The initial fire did not stay lit, so Hopkins went back to the gas station for more fuel. He then used it to light the fire again, this time with the windows open to allow air in. After completing this, he left the residence.

A Deputy State Fire Marshall was called to the scene and determined that the burn pattern inside the home was suspicious. This pattern matched the location that Hopkins had previously stated as the origin of the fire.

Hopkins was subsequently booked into Iron County Jail on one count of Aggravated Arson. It is important to note that these charges are allegations only, and all individuals arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Additional News Updates

• Salt Lake Police have issued a silver alert for a man with dementia.
• The LDS Water Tower Branch building in Ogden has reopened after renovations.
• Millcreek City has received an overwhelming number of supply donations for those affected by a recent fire.
• Experts warn that even if you think you're not allergic to poison ivy, you might be.
• Allianz Life has confirmed a data breach affecting most of its U.S. customers.

For the latest updates on news, weather, sports, and streaming video, visit ABC4 Utah.