POTTSVILLE, Pa. — A man is behind bars, accused of setting the fire that destroyed four homes on Wednesday in Schuylkill County.
State police charged John Jefferson, 59, of Seltzer with arson, reckless endangerment, and other counts.
Troopers say Jefferson set the fire to his own home at 312 Main Street in Seltzer, just outside Pottsville. The flames spread to three more homes.
Police say Jefferson admitted to them that he set his own house on fire because his friend who lived with him refused to leave. That fire then spread to three other houses, destroying them and damaging part of the Seltzer Hose Company.
"As soon as I saw the flames, I just grabbed my phone and dialed 911 and started screaming," said Theresa Ernst.
Ernst was home when the fire broke out, and with the holiday season in full swing, she's now left without a house.
According to investigators, Jefferson, who lived next door, admitted to lighting his own house on fire by torching toilet paper that was soaked in gasoline. The flames then spread to another double-block home, which is where Ernst lived.
The fire also damaged part of the Seltzer Hose Company.
Court papers show Jefferson told authorities he torched his house because his friend who lived with him refused to leave. Jefferson is locked up and charged with arson and reckless endangerment.
"I was on the computer, and the next thing, we heard the sirens going off. I got up, looked out my kitchen window, and I could see the smoke. Then I went to my husband's bedroom, and I looked, I said, 'Holy crap.' Then I went outside, and you couldn't breathe. The smoke was just way too bad," Rhonda Christopher recalled.
Firefighters who were on scene say the blaze was a difficult one to combat because of strong winds and a minor explosion, adding that given the timing of everything, the innocence of those involved, and the intent, the situation stinks.
"It really does. Especially a small community like Seltzer when everyone knows everybody, and it's a real quiet town. Then all of a sudden, arson hit's our home. It's not a good feeling, especially right before the holidays," said firefighter Bill Holley.
No one was hurt in the fire, but two dogs died.