WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The Salt Lake County District Attorney has filed charges of arson Thursday in connection with a fire that occurred in April, and a warrant has been issued for a man’s arrest.
According to court documents, Joseph M. Burt faces one charge of arson, property of another–which is a second-degree felony.
The document states Burt lit some cotton on fire with a cigarette lighter on April 22, and that the fire quickly spread to the building next door—an apartment complex located at 4533 Dean Drive.
The building was destroyed and one person inside had to jump from a window to escape. That man spoke to FOX 13 News after the fire, click here for the details.
The document states that Burt, “admitted he had lit cotton on fire a few days before the apartment blaze and ‘noticed that the fire took off very quickly.’”
The man has not yet been booked into jail as of Thursday night, but when booked his bail is expected to be set at $50,000.
