1 in custody after fire set at same Dayton duplex twice Saturday

DAYTON — A person is in custody for allegedly starting a fire intentionally at a building in Dayton.

>>PHOTOS: Fire breaks out twice at same duplex in Dayton Saturday

Firefighters were called twice to the same duplex at the 200 block of Xenia Avenue Saturday afternoon.

News Center 7′s Taylor Robertson spoke with one of the next-door neighbors. She said they are afraid to stay in their home.

The first fire happened around 3:45 p.m. Saturday afternoon and firefighters got in under control.

But they were dispatched again just before 6 p.m. to fight another one.

>>‘He’s over there yelling;’ 911 callers see person accused of starting Dayton duplex fires

“The city fire department was just a house on Xenia Avenue, someone had caught it on fire,” a 911 caller told dispatchers in an audio call obtained by News Center 7 through a public records request. “And it’s on fire now. The guy that’s burning the house is in front of the house.”

Dayton Firefighters spent an hour and a half battling the first fire, Dayton Fire Captain Brad French told News Center 7 Sunday. They were dispatched to the same location less than two hours later and found another fire inside the home.

“Listen here, somebody is in there right now,” the caller told dispatchers. “I want (officers) them to catch them while they are in there setting a fire. Cause he’s been trying this. I think it’s the same man trying to get his house for a while.”

>>PHOTOS: Fire breaks out twice at same duplex in Dayton Saturday

Robertson said multiple people called dispatchers Saturday afternoon.

“The guy that started the arson across the street is sitting on the house porch next to me,” a male caller said.

“The guy is out here, yelling at my husband and the house is burning,” another female caller said.

They also described to dispatchers what the suspect looked like.

“The guy is wearing a baseball cap, it’s black, he’s got long khaki shorts on, a gray color,” said the caller. “He’s wearing a blue shirt; his gym shoes are black with black socks.”

>>ORIGINAL COVERAGE: Fire breaks out twice at same duplex in Dayton Saturday

Robertson reports investigators were able to confirm the fire was set intentionally and Dayton Police took a suspect into custody.

A person was cooking Saturday when the fire started.

“I see smoke coming from the roof,” she told Robertson. “I called the police and my neighbors on the other side called the police.”

She said the gap between her and the house that was on fire was only about three feet apart.

“So, are you nervous to be here now?” Robertson asked her.

“Yes,” the neighbor answered. “I don’t feel safe.”

No one was hurt and the estimated cost of damages has not yet been determined, French said.

News Center 7 is working to learn the name of the suspect and their charges.

We will continue to provide updates on this developing story.

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