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 was 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. Houston police are working this week to determine ownership of the vacant house.