UPDATED: Employee admits to starting fire at Corbin Ice Company

Corbin Police Major Rob Jones, the department’s public affairs officer, stated that Joshua Stevenson, 22, of Corbin, confessed to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent Todd Tremaine and Corbin Police Detective – Lieutenant Rusty Hedrick during an interview at the Whitley County Detention Center Wednesday night.

Though investigators have not released details on where or how the fire started, Jones said Stevenson told them he started the fire to cover up the burglary.

“That was, ‘Oh, no! I’m on video,’” Jones said.

Stevenson was previously arrested in connection with the burglary, during which various tools and an undisclosed amount of cash were taken from the facility on Cumberland Falls Hwy sometime Sunday night.

The fire started early Monday morning. Corbin firefighters, along with volunteer firefighters from Oak Grove, West Knox and Woodbine Fire departments, were on scene for more than seven hours battling the blaze that gutted much of the facility and collapsed the roof.

 “It was rolling pretty good when we got there,” said Corbin Fire Chief Barry McDonald.

Stevenson was arrested Monday for the burglary.

Ice company officials said the fire destroyed the offices, two of the three warehouses along with two delivery trucks.

However, the production plant suffered just minor damage and the company continues to supply the area as it did prior to the fire.

“Corbin Ice Company would like to thank the Corbin Fire Department, along with the other fire departments, Corbin Police, Kentucky State Police, ATFE, Kentucky State Fire Marshall and other emergency agencies who assisted at the scene,” ice company officials said in a statement released Tuesday. “Assistance from the City of Corbin local businesses is also appreciated.”

Jones, who made the arrest, said he found marijuana and eight to 10 prescription pills on Stevenson’s person at the time of the arrest.

Stevenson has not yet been formally charged in the arson case.

Jones said the arson case will, likely, be presented to a Whitley County grand jury, when it next meets in December.

Second-degree arson is the likely charge.

Jones said first-degree arson involves serious injuries.

“This is still a class B felony,” Jones said of second-degree arson.

Under Kentucky Law, a class B felony carries a potential prison sentence of 10 to 20 years.

Stevenson remains in the Whitley County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash bond.