Neighbors react to arson at Cedar City mobile home park

CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4) — Residents at the Canyon View Mobile Home Park say they’re shocked by an intentional fire set early Sunday morning, and even more surprised by who police say is responsible.

Investigators say 38-year-old Tyson Hopkins intentionally set his home on fire using gasoline and initially lied to police about his whereabouts. Surveillance video showed him filling gas cans at a nearby gas station, and according to the affidavit, he eventually admitted to igniting the home with a pallet and fuel.

Neighbors told police he had been coming and going from the home that day, despite telling officers he had not been home in days. One of the first to respond was park manager Luke Pulsipher, who arrived just before firefighters

“It was probably going to light up another house,” Pulsipher said. “So I was trying to do the best I could to keep it from not doing that and keep everyone kind of safe here.”

Pulsipher says when Hopkins came back to the scene to watch the burning home, he was shocked at his reaction.

“So when he showed up here, he had a really big grin, he was very happy looking to see it burning for some reason,” Pulsipher said.

Neighbor Fox Goodman says Hopkins lived with his mom and was generally quiet. He said his mother had passed away recently and that might have played a role.

“He’s a very quiet and nice guy,” Goodman added. “It’s just a lot of grief that has caused some problems, and I feel sorry for him. I really do. This is a little more bizarre than I would think it should be, but I’m not living in his head, and I just feel sorry.”

Hopkins is currently facing a first-degree felony Aggravated Arson charge and is being held in the Iron County Jail.