Indianapolis Metropolitan Police have arrested a man on two counts of arson after he was accused of setting fire to his own home and barricading himself inside.
At around 5:45 p.m. Saturday, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police responded to a call from a private residence in the 1100 block of Mount Street, where they removed a man from his burning home after residents said he had intentionally set it on fire and barricaded himself inside, according to the Indianapolis Fire Department.
In a social media post, police said officers removed a dresser blocking access to the home. There they found a man refusing to leave the house while a fire burned in a nearby bedroom. Officers pulled the 58-year-old from the burning house and arrested him.
The police tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, but it continued to grow.
The Indianapolis Fire Department was called to the scene and extinguished the fire on both the building and a vehicle in the driveway to prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding homes.
According to the fire department, the ammunition in the vehicle began to explode when it came into contact with the flames.
The fire was under control within 20 minutes, but one firefighter suffered a minor injury and was taken to Methodist Hospital for evaluation.
Two adults were left homeless by the fire.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police and the Indianapolis Fire Department are investigating the circumstances that led to the fire.
Jade Jackson is a public safety reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
