LIGONIER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man was arrested after he admitting he set his rental home on fire late Tuesday night in Ligonier Township, authorities said.
Firefighters were called shortly before midnight as flames burned the home on Route 30 to the ground.
Brian McVicer, 54, broke into his neighbor’s house and used a fire extinguisher inside, later admitting to torching his own home across the street, investigators said.
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Police said they are still trying to pinpoint why the man set the fire.
"I was stunned. I didn’t know what was going on but I could tell he was out there a little bit," said Walter Miller, who woke up to his neighbor bursting through the door of his home overnight — telling him his house was in flames. "He said somebody’s after him. He said my house is on fire."
Miller said McVicer had a bottle of Yukon Jack liquor in one hand and the fire extinguisher in the other as he screamed, “They’re after me! They’re after me!” He then started spraying the fire extinguisher, leaving residue on the neighbor’s clothes, basement walls and steps, and in the laundry room.
“He had a bottle of Yukon Jack in one hand & a fire extinguisher in the other, and he just started spraying!” Homeowner shares the moments suspect who torched his own home across the street burst into his place—making no sense. Watch @WPXI at noon & 5! pic.twitter.com/eWDFCStRv1
— Mike Holden (@WPXIMikeHolden) January 16, 2019
Police found McVicer outside before firefighters got there.
He allegedly told officers he set the fire with a can of Crisco, claiming people were after him.
He also admitted to smoking methamphetamine, and had suspected crystallized meth in a breath mint container in his pocket when he was arrested. The home, had to be demolished and is a total loss.
McVicer will be charged with arson and criminal mischief, police said.
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