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Volunteer firefighter arrested for arson

Posted at 12:32 PM, Jun 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-05 13:32:33-04

The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal has arrested a volunteer firefighter and booked him with arson.

Chance Felice, 23, was a volunteer with the Longville Fire Department. He was booked into the Beauregard Parish Jail on Monday with one count of simple arson.

Felice is accused of fsetting an air mattress on fire, which subsequently caught his home on fire, a spokeswoman said. 

The Fire Marshal was contacted to assist in determining the origin and cause of a fire at a home in the 500 block of Jordan Deville Road in Longville. 

The Fire Chief told investigators he was suspicious about Felice’s involvement with the fire due to comments made by Felice two hours prior to the 911 call. The chief also mentioned Felice had been suspended from the department twice in the past year. 

Investigators determined that the fire started on the floor in the home’s garage. In an interview with detectives, Felice allegedly said he knocked over a torch and lit some wires on fire. 

After further interrogation, Felice allegedly confessed that he lit an air mattress under his garage wanting to start a small fire. He said the air mattress fire quickly got out of control and he tried putting it out with a garden hose, but wasn’t successful. Then he called 911. 

Felice was placed under arrest after he was treated for smoke inhalation, the spokeswoman said. 

“This is, undoubtedly, a disappointing incident to the Longville community and its fire service,” said State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, “But this instance should not tarnish the dedication that hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteer and career firefighters demonstrate in their communities, across our state, on a daily basis.”