By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
A report of a possible vehicle fire and explosions sent Harrison firefighters to a residence on Fish-ing Site Road in Hayes Township on Saturday, January 25th at approximately 2:58 pm.
The 9-1-1 caller also told dispatchers he saw black smoke was hearing explosions in the area.
When firefighters arrived on the scene at 5160 Fishing Site Road, they saw several different fires burning in the yard of the residence. They also saw a man attempting to start more fires.
The Harrison Fire Department notified Central Dispatch to request the Sheriff’s Office at the sce-ne.
Arriving Deputies found the 36-year-old homeowner, Cameron Hill, had started the fires on his property, a vehicle he owned on fire and two vehicles owned by a family member.
The CCSO press release also said Hill had started two sheds located on his property on fire, used accelerant (gasoline) inside his residence and lit the gas on fire in an attempt to burn his house.
He was unsuccessful in completely burning the house, but it did sustain damage from the smoke and fire. The vehicles, sheds and their contents were destroyed by the fires he set.
Hill was arrested and lodged in the Clare County Jail. He was arraigned in 80 District Court on one count of second-degree arson and one count of third-degree arson. His bond was set at $100,000/10 percent. He remains lodge in the jail pending a hearing set for February 18th to deter-mine if he should stand trial.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fires.
In Michigan, second degree arson is charged “when a person willfully or maliciously burns, dam-ages or destroys by fire (or explosion) a dwelling regardless of whether it is occupied or unoccu-pied.”
“Third degree arson involves willfully burning, destroying or damaging by fire or explosion any building or structure or its contents having a value of $20,000 or more. This applies regardless of whether the person owns the building structure, other real property or its contents or the personal property.”
