PALM BAY, Fla. — Authorities arrested a man they say was seen throwing a Molotov cocktail into the woods Wednesday in this Atlantic coast town, where several homes were gutted by wildfires this week.
Officials were questioning Brian Crowder, who authorities allege set a small blaze that was quickly put out. They also asked the 31-year-old about larger wildfires that have found ample fuel in housing developments in the region, where the state has not held controlled burns to cut back vegetation.
Crowder was charged Wednesday with six probation violations but has not been charged with any crime connected to the fires.
A resident alerted police after seeing Crowder throw an object from his car that sparked the fire, Palm Bay Detective Ernie Diebel said. The object was a glass bottle containing a flammable liquid, Palm Bay Police Chief Bill Berger said.
Officers stopped the vehicle shortly afterward. Crowder got out of his car and fled, Diebel said.
Officers tracked him through the woods with the help of other residents, police said.
Records show that Crowder has drug, burglary and automobile-theft convictions dating from 1996.
He was being treated at a hospital for minor injuries caused by a police dog when officers took him into custody.
Authorities have said they believe the wildfires burning in Palm Bay and neighboring Malabar were deliberately set.
Since the fires began Sunday, about 20 homes have been destroyed and 140 other structures charred.
The damage was estimated around $3.5 million, said Palm Bay City Manager Lee Feldman, who added that homes and outbuildings were among the damaged structures. Officials had earlier reported 40 homes destroyed.
Efforts to contain other fires, which have burned about 15 square miles, were improving, officials said. Still, major highways in the area were being intermittently closed because of smoke and the proximity to flames.
“We had pretty good weather last night, so the fire laid down and let us catch up a bit,” said Todd Schroeder, spokesman for the state’s Division of Forestry.
Some residents tried Wednesday to pick through the charred remains of their homes for belongings.
In north Florida, firefighters were working on two blazes in the Apalachicola National Forest west of Tallahassee. No people or homes were in danger.
