NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – Investigators from the New Braunfels Fire Marshal's Office have arrested Jeremiah Farrell, 21, and charged him with two counts of first-degree felony arson.
"He was the one who actually called 911 and then attempted to extinguish the fire with the other occupants prior to us getting there," said Lt. Matthew Bushnell, a New Braunfels arson investigator.
Farrell is believed to have started five fires at his home on the 200 block of West Merriweather Street.
"It started off with a trash can fire, a lawn chair that was set on fire, some Halloween decorations that were set on fire and then these two structure fires," Bushnell said.
Since December 2012 Farrell is believed to have started a total of 10 fires in and around the New Braunfels area.
"The first fire he did not use anything, the second fire to make (it) larger and greater and more important he possibly used a ignitable liquid and accelerate to create the growth of the fire. So yeah, a lot of times they step it up and make bigger fires," said Bushnell.
Investigators must also re-visit every other unsolved fires in the area to find out if Farrell is responsible for any others.
"We contacted the local agencies, the Comal County Fire Marshal's Office and some other ones that we feel maybe he's been in their areas," Bushnell said.