Man Charged In Ormond Beach House Fire

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Firefighters Ormond Beach 2 071716 Ormond Beach, FL-  A man is charged with arson, two counts of attempted murder and animal cruelty in a Sunday morning fire. Police say 52-year-old Thomas J. Loncala allegedly set fire to a home at 144 South Ridgewood Avenue. Ormond Beach police spokesman Keith Walker said Loncala was staying at the home on a temporary basis. He had an argument about his belongings with the people he was staying with. Walker said Loncala was told to leave, and he then set the house on fire. "He took revenge on them for the missing property.” A dog died in the fire. The fire was called into dispatch just after 7 A.M. Police found Loncala about 30 minutes later, according to Walker.  He said the suspect confessed to police. The fire is still under investigation by the state fire marshal. Walker said Loncala told police he set papers on fire to get things started. The home had been declared uninhabitable. Walker said the residents were directed to the Red Cross.   Fire Ormond Beach 071716                                                Firefighters Ormond Beach 071716

(Photos courtesy of the Volusia County Professional Firefighters Association)

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