A Greenbrier County man was arrested after a residential fire in the early morning hours of Aug. 22 led investigators to determine that the blaze had been intentionally set. Charles Lacy Adkins, 31, of Rainelle has been charged with first-degree arson.
Shortly after midnight on the date in question, the Rainelle Fire Department responded to and extinguished a house fire at a Poplar Street residence. The subsequent investigation revealed “irregular burn patterns with an odor of an ignitable liquid,” prompting a request for further investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s office.
According to the criminal complaint, a search warrant was obtained for the property on Tuesday, Aug. 24 for an “origin and cause investigation.” Charles Lacy Adkins was found to be present at the property at the time the warrant was served. Adkins was interviewed by investigators at that time.
As explained in the criminal complaint, while being interviewed, “Adkins stated, in substance, that he had intentionally set fire to a piece of furniture located in the kitchen area of the residence. Adkins further stated that he had taken gasoline from a small jug similar to a bleach jug and soaked a rag in the gasoline, placed the rag on the furniture item, and lit the rag on fire.”
Adkins further reportedly told investigators “that his reason for starting the fire was because people were always breaking in and stealing his property.”
Charles Lacy Adkins is currently being held at Southern Regional Jail on a surety/cash bond of $10,000.
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