Men indicted and arrested in connection with ferocious fire in Union County in 2019

Two men have been arrested for starting a fire that destroyed over one-million square feet of building space in Union County on June 26, 2019.

According to Union County Sheriff Jimmy Edwards, arrested on April 5, 2022 were:

• Steven Thomas, who was charged with second degree arson, conspiracy and false pretense, and
• Eddie Greer, charged second degree arson and conspiracy.

Both were released the day of their arrests upon posting bond of $10,000 each.

The blaze reported about 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, destroyed several large buildings located about three miles north of New Albany on the east side of Highway 15.

The fire is believed to have started in buildings occupied by Thomas Wholesale Furniture, a business of which Steven Thomas was an owner.

The fire spread to a nearby building being used by for storage by Masterbilt, a manufacturer of refrigeration equipment. Both buildings and their contents were considered total losses.

The huge fire could be seen from many miles away. Bringing it under control was a dangerous all-night job for firefighters and equipment from the New Albany Fire Department and every volunteer fire company in Union County.

Devices placed on the perimeter of the fire take air samples to help determine causes of the fire.

An investigation of the fire began while it was still smoldering, not long after daylight the same day. Investigators from the Mississippi Fire Marshall’s office and expert private fire investigators from out of state used sensitive air sampling equipment to try to determine the cause of the fire. Local and federal investigators also participated in the investigation.

About one month after the fire in late July, the State Fire Marshall’s office said that an “accelerant” had been used and the fire had been deliberately set.

Steven Thomas and Eddie Greer were indicted this month by a Union County grand jury. It is not believed that trial dates for Thomas and Greer have been set yet.

This website was the only news medium to report while the fire was in its full fury and other reports were made here in the following days.

Follow the links below for photographs and news reported here earlier:

https://newalbanyunionco.com/fire-rages-thomas-wholesale-furniture/

https://newalbanyunionco.com/thomas-wholesale-furniture-fire-aftermath/

https://newalbanyunionco.com/fire-marshall-confirms-accelerant-thomas-furniture-fire/

https://newalbanyunionco.com/no-arrest-in-thomas-fire/

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