Virginia Beach man charged with setting cars ablaze

VIRGINIA BEACH

When firefighters were called to the scene of a vehicle fire in the Thalia area on Friday, they had been told a single pickup was ablaze. When they arrived, they found two more vehicles on fire as well.

On Wednesday, authorities said they have charged a man with deliberately torching all three vehicles.

The fires occurred in the 100 block of Wales Drive, said Battalion Chief Leon Dextradeur. The first vehicle that had been reported burning was a 1997 Ford pickup. Once on scene, crews found a 1993 Toyota Tercel and a 2003 Honda Accord also ablaze.

Dextradeur said that, after confessing he had set the fires, Matthew Aaron Householder of Virginia Beach was arrested and charged with three felony counts of arson to personal property.

Householder, whose age and address were not released, was later released on bond.

Householder suffered serious burns to his face, chest and arms, Dextradeur said. The motive for setting the fires was not disclosed.