Citrus Heights Man Accused Of Trying To Set House On Fire Twice
CITRUS HEIGHTS (CBS13) - A Citrus Heights man has been arrested for attempting to set fire to his house twice last month, according to fire officials.
Anthony Chance, 46, was arrested Thursday and charged with willfully and maliciously attempting to set fire to a structure using a flammable gas, and making terrorist threats. Chance was booked into the Sacramento County Jail and will be arraigned Friday. He is being held on $100,000 bail.
Sacramento Metro Fire crews responded to the house in the 6900 block of Amberwick Lane on March 4 and reported a strong odor of natural gas. Metro Fire crews forced entry and found a free-flowing, manually cut supply line to a natural gas clothes dryer. Arson investigators later determined Chance had attempted to set fire to his home by cutting the gas line to his dryer.
Two days later, Chance, a plumber, returned to the home, repaired the since-disabled gas meter and manipulated the gas line to his hot water heater in a second effort to cause an explosion and fire, according to Metro Fire Assistant Chief Scott Cockrum. A neighbor reported the leak and fire crews were able to prevent any explosion.
An arrest warrant was issued for Chance on Wednesday.
"This was a lengthy and comprehensive investigation involving multiple jurisdictions," Cockrum said in a press release. The crimes Chance are charged with are serious, and we are fortunate he was unsuccessful in his attempts. There are examples of gas explosions in our area where unsuspecting residents were killed or injured, their property damaged, and have resulted in firefighters being seriously burned."
