Springfield police have arrested a Guyton teenager in connection with a fire that destroyed several tents at the Methodist Campground in Springfield.

Police Chief Paul Wynn said Stephen T. Grantham, 17, was arrested Monday and charged with cfalse statements, burglary, criminal damage to property in the second degree, vandalism to a place of worship and arson in the second degree.

Wynn told Springfield City Council about the arrest at its meeting Tuesday night.

“I’ve probably got two weeks more follow up, but we have arrested the primary suspect at this time,” he said.

Wynn said arson arrests are often difficult to make.

“To be honest with you, I had not foreseen making an arrest on this one because it’s hard to fingerprint smoke,” he said.

Wynn said the help from the district attorney’s office and Effingham County sheriff’s department crime scene investigator made the difference.

The fire occurred late afternoon on Dec. 19 and burned several structures known as tents, where families gather during the annual camp meeting in July.

The camp meetings have been taking place for more than 210 years and the present site of the Springfield Campground was established in the early 1900s.

The investigation into the fire is continuing.