THOMASVILLE — An arrest has been made in the arson case of Cairo High School’s baseball field concessions stand.

A 15-year-old male, a student at the school, was arrested Tuesday, Cairo Fire Chief Don Towne said. He has been charged with arson.

“We received several tips from the community over the weekend regarding a possible suspect for the fire,” he said. “Fire Marshal David Todd and Cairo Police Department Investigator Wandell Asbell interviewed several juveniles this morning and were able to come up with a suspect. The suspect was interviewed, admitted to starting the fire and was placed under arrest.”

The concessions stand burned to the ground in the late evening hours of Oct. 6. The school was on Fall Break at the time.

Asbell said a couple of names “kept popping up” during the investigation, which led to the arrest.

“Arson can be proven, but proving who struck the match is the hard part,” he said.

Towne said the youth admitted to authorities he acted alone and that he “wanted to watch it burn.”

“That is what we call a thrill-seeker fire, a fire set for the excitement,” he said. “Most arsons are motivated by money, revenge or thrill-seeking.”

The juvenile is currently being held at Loftiss Regional Youth Detention Center in Thomasville, Asbell said.

“He will go for a detention hearing within the next couple of days and the judge will make a decision whether to keep him in YDC until his court date or return him to his parents. He will be tried in Grady County Juvenile Court.”

Superintendent of Grady County Schools Dr. Tommy Pharis said Tuesday afternoon he was made aware a suspect had been arrested, but preferred not to comment until all the facts were known.

A $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the arson by the Georgia Arson Control Board Inc.

Towne said this will not occur until a person is actually convicted of the arson and the board determines who, if anybody, is eligible for the award and what dollar amount will be given.

A week to crack an arson case is “real good,” Towne said.

“Cairo Police Department and Cairo Fire Department worked together; we appreciation the cooperation and hard work of everyone involved.”