Update – Thursday 11:40 a.m. – A two-alarm fire destroyed a Rockville home Wednesday afternoon, displacing six people, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Pete Piringer.
Piringer reported Thursday investigators charged 27-year-old Carlos Peralta, of Horners Lane in Rockville, with first-degree arson and three counts of reckless endangerment.
An ABC7 news camera at the scene interviewed a man who identified himself as "Carlos" who admitted on camera to setting the fire. He told the cameraman he did it to attract media and police interest to the home, where he said six people were living in deplorable living conditions.
When asked how he did it, "Carlos" said, "I just poured gasoline on the floor, set it on fire, went to grab a drink, and came back."
The man then went up to two Rockville Police officers and told them he set the fire. ABC7 reported the man later went silent when interviewed by police at the station, but that their video is being used as evidence in the case.
The fire broke out at a home in the 300 block of South Horners Lane in Rockville’s Lincoln Park area around 1:20 p.m., according to Piringer. Three occupants escaped the home without injury. The home is located in a residential neighborhood about 1,000 feet from the Rockville Metro station.
Piringer reported firefighters encountered heavy flames upon their arrival. About 75 firefighters fought the fire, which caused more than $400,000 in damage to the home, according to Piringer.
The Red Cross was called in to assist the residents who were displaced as a result of the fire.
Joint #mcfrs Fire (FEI) Investigators & R'ville City PD investigation – Investigators talking to a person of interest pic.twitter.com/y9Hm2klF2o
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 19, 2014
#mcfrs Fire Investigators have arrested & Charged Carlos I PERALTA, 27, of Horners Ln, Rockville RE 11/19 house fire pic.twitter.com/3P8ahT6rRF
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 20, 2014
