The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal has arrested an Opelousas man and accused him of setting a trailer on fire with a family asleep inside.
Thomas Mirvil, 33, was booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail on Sunday, September 23, on one count of Aggravated Arson.
In the early morning hours, the St. Landry Fire Department contacted the LAOSFM to assist in determining the origin and cause of a manufactured home fire located in the 400 block of Compress Road in Opelousas.
Investigators discovered minor fire damage beneath the west side of the trailer’s exterior and classified the fire as incendiary, meaning it was intentionally set.
The owner of the home told investigators she, along with her mother and children, were asleep when her brother started banging on the door to warn them the trailer was on fire.
The homeowner’s brother also told investigators when he was running to make that warning, he saw Mirvil, a neighbor, running from behind the trailer.
The homeowner told investigators she and Mirvil had been quarreling for the past few weeks.
In an interview with investigators, Mirvil denied having involvement with the fire, but was noted as wearing clothing matching the description of the individual seen running from the area of the fire.
It was also noted that Mirvil smelled of smoke.
Mirvil was then placed under arrest.
