California DA alleges arson-related heart attacks are murder

Prosecutors in California this week filed five counts of first-degree murder against a suspected arsonist for the death of five men who died during a 2003 blaze that swept through the foothills of San Bernardino Mountain.

Under state law, first-degree murder charges can be filed when a death occurs during the commission of a felony. In this case, arson.

Prosecutors believe they have that they have a strong case that stress from the wildfire led to the five deaths

| Bob Cronkleton

Tips sought in arson that injured two firefighters

Remember the apartment fire on Sunday that injured two firefighters? Authorities are asking for help catching those responsible for setting the blaze. From the press release:

The Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline and the Bomb and Arson Section of the Kansas City Police Department are requesting the public's help in identifying those responsible for an Oct. 18 fire which took place at 1612 E. 30th St.

Woman, 74, set fire to competing Chinese restaurant, La. police say

The two restaurants are about a block apart. The victim's business might have burned, but they were able to get surveillance footage of the suspect -- who looks like a little old lady -- apparently starting the fire.

Detroit bracing for Devils' Night

Devils' Night is what they call the night before Halloween in Detroit because several people like to set fire to vacant houses over the holiday. It's gotten better over the last decade as volunteers have formed "Angels' Night" patrols to head off the arsons. Some people are worried about this year because, thanks to the recession, there are more vacant houses.

Music director torched LV church in insurance scam, feds allege

The fires reportedly occurred in October 2008 at Leavenworth's Sunflower Missionary Baptist Church, Brad Cooper reports. Carva Lee White is facing a handful of federal charges related to arson and fraud.

Man decides to burn U.S. flag at VFW hall

Because the bartender reportedly refused to serve him. They didn't kill the flag-burner, and they didn't call the police. They did, however, exact vengeance.

Hat Tip: Saw this via Fark!

Probation for KS man who helped burn down church

Trevor Powell Jones, now 20, was 17 years old when he and another teen set fire to a Topeka church. Jones has pleaded no-contest to that crime, as well as vandalizing 50-plus gravestones back in 2006. Jones has been placed on two years supervised probation under Kansas sentencing guidelines and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution for the gravestones. (No word how much he'll have to cough up for the church, which was covered by insurance.) Jones was suspected in two other church fires, as well as some other crimes, but as part of the plea deal, prosecutors have agreed to not file charges. Jones' attorney says there isn't probable cause.

Man burns down house after being forced to live in Omaha

Tequila was involved. I'm not saying it's OK, but I understand.

File Photo: The accomplice.

TX woman must have carried a torch for her ex-boyfriend, police say

She allegedly used it to set his clothes on fire.

TX dispatcher accused of setting fire in deputy boyfriend's house

On the same day they broke up. Snip:

A friend told police after Gilliam shared the news about the break-up over the phone three hours before the fire, Gilliam said "she wished something bad would happen, because when something bad happened in the past, her and Scott would get back together."

Boy, 12, tried to set his friend on fire twice, police say

The two boys, ages 12 and 13, were in a treehouse and playing with a balloon filled with lighter fluid. (As so many of us do.) The balloon popped, and the older boy got soaked. He was leaving to change clothes, but the 12-year-old set him on fire, police in Sacramento, Calif., say. The victim patted the flames down -- so his friend allegedly set him ablaze again, leaving the 13-year-old with severe burns. The police aren't sure if the suspect was trying to be "playful."

Shawnee car fires were probably set, police say

Happened overnight on 63rd Terrace. The cars were parked across the street from one another. One was a total loss.

Bartender won't serve man, so he tries to burn her truck, VT cops say

The bartender stopped him before anything caught fire, police say.

KC man tries to burn down aunt's house because he couldn't find clothes, police say

With the aunt and some kids inside the house, authorities allege.

Fed up with school taxes, vandal burns 60-foot "$" into football field

Story is from New York.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Searching!

Utah man gets late-rent notice, sets apartment on fire, police say

My dad's a landlord. They're still going to want that rent. And you just lost your deposit, pal.

Topless coffee shop, victim of arson, vows to rebuild

Details here.

There is an awesome version of "Don't Stop Believin'" on YouTube, but Journey doesn't let you embed it. I'm making do with this cover by the Chipmunks.

Drunk man solves 2 problems with 1 big fire, police say

From the Tennessean:

Grosnickle told Bartel he had two problems: His dog died July 3 and the corpse smelled bad, and he was moving and needed to get rid of his furniture, the report stated.

After drinking a bottle of gin and several beers, Grosnickle took the sofa, couch and living room chairs to the backyard, stacked them on the corpse, poured gas on it and set it on fire, Bartel wrote.

One, two, three . . . Topeka has problem counting arsons

It seems there's a problem with software in Topeka. The fire department can't seem to get the correct number of arsons. The count is now 49, which is higher than the number released by fire officials last week. 

Fom the Topeka Capital-Journal:

For the second time in three months, fire department computers generated an incorrect figure when officials tried to respond to a request.

| Bob Cronkleton

You might want to avoid your new neighbor if...

A. He wanders in circles in the backyard at night, wearing knee-high rubber boots and a headband with a light on it.

B. You notice unexplained explosions and shrapnel flying on your street.

| Sara Shepherd

Only in Galveston

The island was ravaged by Hurricane Ike, and now arsonists are torching its symbolic palm trees--30 since May. 

A tree trimming business owner, Greg West, is offering a $1,000 reward to catch the culprits, according to the Galveston County Daily News.

"We just got hit by a hurricane, and the only thing that lived were the palm trees," West said.

Hat Tip: Many thanks Keith G in PV!

|Meredith Rodriguez

 

CT woman literally wanted to "smoke out" her estranged husband

A Connecticut woman has confessed to first-degree arson. She reportedly set fire to an apartment where she thought her husband was sleeping to force him out. Snip:

The prosecutor says Quigley wanted her estranged husband to be left without a home and forced to live with her mother so she could "keep an eye on him."

St. Louis woman asked ex-BF to burn down her apartment building, police say

In exchange for smokes and a four-pack of beer, plus he would get to "spend the evening," which he assumed meant sex, the Post-Dispatch reports. Police believe the woman wanted the money and hotel stay that she'd get from the Red Cross.

Maybe he's just not that into you

An Indiana woman was arrested after allegedly trying to burn the house where her quasi-boyfriend -- who hadn't returned her phone calls -- was staying. (As the victim notes, "Hobby told detectives he and Hawkins 'do not date exclusively, although she becomes angry when he goes out with other women,' according to the affidavit.")

KS paroles arsonist whose fire killed Lawrence firefighter in 1986

David Winebrenner was released Monday. His victim, Mark Blair, was the first Lawrence firefighter to die in the department's history. Snip from the Journal-World:

Winebrenner, 21 at the time, set fire to his parents’ home while they were sleeping inside. His father said his son started the fire because he was angry about not being able to drive the family’s new truck.