LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — A Virginia man is now in custody and facing charges of "burning or destroying dwelling house", after a deck caught on fire in Loudoun County causing about $45,000 in damages.
On May 14 just before 8 a.m. Loudoun County fire was called for a reported fire on a deck in the 25000 block of Purebred Court.
Multiple fire units from Kirkpatrick Farms, Dulles South, Brambleton, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority responded to the fire.
Crews arrived to find a fire burning on the rear deck of the home. The initial 911 call came from a neighbor who said that they saw a deck on fire next to their house.
The fire was extinguished quickly and was only on the deck area where it did approximately $45,000 in damages, according to Loudoun county fire officials.
The Fire Marshal's office conducted an investigation into the cause and origin of the fire and determined the flames were intentionally set, triggering a criminal investigation.
Once the investigation was complete an arrest warrant was issued for Christopher A. Hope.
Hope is now facing charges related to Code of Virginia §18.2-77 Burning or destroying dwelling house, etc, Loudoun County fire said in a release.
The arrest warrant was served through cooperation with the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office and Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. Hope has been released on bond from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.