A Clarion man has admitted to setting a fire Tuesday in an apartment building in Clarion Borough.
Clarion Borough police said in a criminal complaint that Randy Divelbiss, 32, told police he lit a Sterno, a portable heat source used for cooking, and left it in a stairwell of the 752 Main St. building.
Divelbiss told police he was upset with the landlord after he had been evicted from an apartment in the building. Divilbiss said he had been living out of his car.
Police said only one renter was inside the building, which also houses Shick’s Gifts and Tobacco Shoppe, when the fire started. The tenant had tried to put out the fire and called 911, police said.
Clarion Fire & Hose Co. 1 extinguished the blaze and notified police that the source of the fire was the lit Sterno, police said.
Police said they were aware Divelbiss had previous issues with the apartment’s landlord. Police also said they had been notified by a person near the scene Tuesday night that Divelbiss had previously said he was going to burn down the apartment building and that he had purchased Sternos.
Divelbiss told police during questioning he bought the two-pack of Sternos on Monday and had an extra one in his vehicle.
Divelbiss was charged with felony counts of aggravated arson -bodily injury, risking catastrophe and criminal mischief/damage property intent, reckless, or negligent, misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and DUI and a summary traffic offense.
He was arraigned Tuesday and placed in the Clarion County jail after being unable to post $100,000 bail.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled Tuesday.