Alleged arsonist charged in Sunday’s house fire on Whitestown Road
The alleged arsonist who started Sunday’s house fire on Whitestown Road in Butler Township is facing charges, Butler Township police said.
Michael W. Pallone, 61, of Butler, is accused of lighting three fires at the residence at between March 16 and April 27. The latest on Sunday destroyed the vacant home at 315 Whitestown Road.
Multiple crews responded to the Sunday fire, reported around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, to find the structure almost burned down upon their arrived. Police said the house was “full of junk” without any electric or utilities.
The Sunday fire followed two earlier fires that police say Pallone is also responsible for starting. Police responded March 16 to the residence for a fire that originated near the front door, and a junk pile behind the residence was set ablaze March 31.
Police said no leads were recovered from the two incidents, so an officer returned to the residence April 3 and set up a game camera.
Police returned after Sunday’s fire and said they saw Pallone on the game camera walking around the residence the day before, and again the day of the fire followed by heavy smoke. Police said a neighbor also spotted Pallone at the scene before the fire.
After viewing the footage, police said they found Pallone at the scene when he walked up to the rubble, but he denied being at the residence before the fire. Pallone told police he came over when he saw the smoke from his living room window.
When police asked Pallone about the camera footage, he admitted to being at the residence but said he did not start the fire. A K9 was later dispatched to the property and found an accelerant at the residence and on Pallone’s hands and shoes.
He was charged with one felony count each of arson and risking catastrophe, and misdemeanor criminal mischief.
Fire crews had control of the fire after about an hour and were on scene about an hour and a half, according to Butler Township police.
The house was located behind another home on Whitestown Road. According to the Callens, who live nearby, the same family occupied both houses, but recently left.
“They all kind of lived together, but none of them are there anymore,” said Jill Callen. “They moved out probably last year, just after Christmas after a storm knocked a tree on their house, and it was not fixable. One of their kids went to school with our kids. There’s been nobody in that house for over a year.”
In addition to Butler Township’s fire and police departments, Butler Bureau of Fire, VA Fire and Emergency Services, state police and Butler Ambulance Service all responded to the fire.
Eagle staff writer William Pitts contributed to this report.
