Authorities say a Lincoln County man facing an arson charge hasconfessed to starting a Wednesday morning fire that totaled a SouthFirst Street residence.

Dustin Bairfield, arson investigator with the Lincoln CountySheriff’s Department, said Christopher Smith was arrested Thursdayin connection with the fire that started around 5 a.m. at theBlade’s Trailer Park home of Stormy Weathersby. Bairfield said thehome was “pretty much gutted,” but Weathersby was not injured.

After the blaze was extinguished, investigators from thesheriff’s department, civil defense and state fire marshal’s officewere able to determine that the fire was arson, Bairfield said.

Bairfield said witness interviews placed Smith, 19, of 299Georgia Ave., near Weathersby’s residence around the time the firewas reported. Also, the investigation revealed that Smith andWeathersby had been involved in a disturbance over a woman earlierWednesday around 1 a.m.

Smith was arrested Thursday morning. During questioning, Smithdecided to admit setting the fire, Bairfield said.

“He said his intention was not to burn the house, but to scareMr. Weathersby,” Bairfield said. “The actual fire was started onthe ground.”

Bairfield said roofing tar paper was used to start the fire.

Smith was charged with first degree arson, Bairfield said. Ifconvicted, he faces a sentence of five to 25 years in prison.

Authorities were preparing the case for presentation during anupcoming term of the Lincoln Count Grand Jury.