KXXV-TV News Channel 25 - Central Texas News and Weather for Waco, Temple, Killeen | Man sets fire to own home following fight

Man sets fire to own home following fight

by Henry Rosoff

WACO - Fire investigators responded to an alarm at 902 North 34th St. just before 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon to find the house on fire.

"Initial reports were that everyone had gotten out of the house but when the first engines here they were told there was someone inside the house," said Fire Marshall Jerry Hawk.  "After investigating, they found one individual in the back yard."

The man in the back yard was the homeowner, 48-year-old John Engelke.  Fire investigators said he started the fire following a domestic dispute with his wife.

Prior to the fire the two had been fighting.  His wife left and Engelke allegedly locked himself in the couple's room. That's when he apparently sparked the blaze, although fire officials would not elaborate on how he started the fire.

Hawk said when the wife returned she tried to put out the fire, but could not and hurt her hand in the process.  She ran out of the house and called the fire department.  Firefighters searched for Engelke when they arrive.

Twice they entered the burning building in search of him.

Eventually, Engelke was found in the backyard.  He was escorted to the hospital, where fire investigators waited until his Carbon Monoxide levels returned to normal and then placed him under arrest.  He was booked into the McLennan County jail at 8:30 Tuesday evening.

Engelke has no criminal record.  His wife, two daughters and three young grandchildren all lived with him at the house.  The Red Cross his helping them with shelter.