Michigan man charged with arson after allegedly setting house, vehicles on fire

CLARE COUNTY, MI – A Michigan man is accused of trying to burn his own house down and destroying multiple cars and sheds in a fire, police say.

Cameron Hill, 36, was arrested Saturday, Jan. 25, after he allegedly started several fires on his property, according to a news release from the Clare County Sheriff’s Office. The Hayes Township man was arraigned this week on one count of second degree arson and one count of third degree arson.

The Harrison Fire Department was dispatched at 2:58 p.m. Saturday on reports of a possible vehicle fire at a residence on the 5100 block of Fishing Site Road in Hayes Township. The caller reportedly told dispatchers he saw black smoke and heard “explosions” in the area.

Firefighters arrived to find several different fires burning in the yard and saw Hill trying to start more fires, according to the release.

Hill allegedly lit several vehicles on fire, one of which he owned and two that were owned by a family member. He also set two sheds ablaze on his property. Police said Hill had poured gasoline inside his home and was trying to light the gas on fire to try and burn the house down, according to the release.

Hill was unsuccessful in his effort to completely burn the house down, but the home did sustain damage from the fire and smoke, the sheriff’s office said.

The vehicles, sheds and its contents were destroyed by the fires, according to the release.

No one was injured in the fires, authorities said.

Hill was arrested and lodged in the Clare County Jail, and he later was arraigned in 80th District Court. His bond was set at $1 million.

In Michigan, second degree arson is defined as when a subject willfully or maliciously burns, damages or destroys by fire a dwelling regardless of whether it is occupied or unoccupied by fire or explosion. Third degree arson involves willfully burning, destroying, or damaging by fire or explosion any building or structure, or its contents having a value of $20,000 or more. It doesn’t matter if the person owns the building, property or its contents, according to the release.