A house fire spotted early Sunday by a Houston police officer was intentionally set, according to the Houston Fire Department and the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s office.
An 18-year-old Elk Creek man is held in the Texas County Jail following an investigation by the Houston Police Department. He also is wanted on a Phelps County warrant charging him with failing to appear on a possession of marijuana case. Bond is set at $10,000.
Because no charges have been filed in the local case, no name has been released.
A 16-year-old Houston boy, who also with the suspect, was referred to juvenile authorities.
The blaze was discovered at 1:04 a.m. near Mill and Bryan streets. The vacant home is situated across the street from Chestnut Terrance.
Firemen arrived to find the blaze concentrated in an upper level. According to a police report, the department reported several articles had been set ablaze inside the residence. Mike Johnson, a fire investigator with the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s office, was called to the scene.
Firemen were at the residence for several hours.