HENRICO, Va. – Henrico Police arrested a man suspected in shed arson that occurred Sept. 23, in the 4600 block of Sydclay Drive near South Laburnum Avenue in the county’s east end.
Personnel arrived to find a small shed on fire, which was located near the back of the apartment complex. The intense heat from the shed fire had started to damage the back of the apartments, so firefighters aggressively attacked the shed fire while also ensuring that the damage to the apartment was kept to a minimum.
The fire was rapidly controlled with hand lines from the responding fire engines.
During the fire marshal’s investigation of the fire, the cause was determined to be arson.
On Thursday, Sept. 29, police arrested Michael Anthony Porter, age 49, of Henrico County.
He was taken into custody without incident by the fire marshal’s office as the suspect in this fire.
There are no other outstanding suspects in relation to this crime.
There were no injuries as a result of the blaze, and the occupants of the nearby apartments were not displaced, although work will be required on the outside of the building.
Henrico Fire credits early detection of the fire and immediate 911 calls to aid in the fast arrival of firefighters, which helped limit damage and ensured the safety of the many occupants in the apartment building at the early hour.