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Sisters charged in Wilson duplex fire




Bridget Jeanette Artis, left, and Brittney Lynette M. Artis, right, are accused of setting fire to a vacant duplex. Contributed photos

Two Wilson sisters have been charged in a fire that consumed a Wilson duplex on Nov. 20.

Brittney Lynette M. Artis, 32, and her sister, Bridget Jeanette Artis, 40, both of whom have a listed address of 315 Pender St. E., are each charged with felony burning an unoccupied building, or arson, according to a statement by Sgt. Eric McInerny, public information officer with the Wilson Police Department. 



Bridget Artis was arrested Wednesday night, and Britney Artis was arrested in the early morning hours Thursday.

Both women were placed in the Wilson County Detention Center and released after posting a $20,000 secured bonds.

The burned duplex at 602 Vance St. E. is about 250 feet away from the Pender Street home where the women live.

Firefighters were called to the Vance Street structure at 1:45 a.m. on Nov. 20 and found the single-story duplex engulfed in flames, with fire coming through the roof and out of the windows.

Wilson Fire/Rescue Services Deputy Fire Chief James Campbell called the fire suspicious.

Two firefighters sustained minor injuries while fighting the fire.

The structure was damaged so severely that fire crews had to demolish it after extinguishing the blaze. 

The duplex was built in 1940. Before the fire, it was unoccupied, with the windows boarded up.