A convicted arsonist was again arrested Wednesday, accused of setting fire to a vacant home next door to where he lives, Volusia County deputies said.
44-year-old James Bates has been charged with first degree arson of a dwelling and burglary of a dwelling.
Authorities said, someone, later identified as Bates, called 911 around 4:30 a.m. to report a house fire at 4654 Saxon Drive.
“I just got woken up by an alarm,” the caller told the Sheriff’s Office dispatcher on the other end of the line. “I went outside and the house next door is engulfed in flames.” As the call continues, the man gets increasingly excited. “The flames are going silly now,” he reported. “They’re going crazy.” After taking his name and phone number, the telecommunicator leaves the man with some safety advice. “Keep everyone away from the fire. We’ll be out there shortly, O.K.?” The caller then responds: “Alright. Please come, ‘cuz this thing is really getting goofy.”
Deputies and fire personnel arrived at the location to find the house fully engulfed in flames. That’s when they spotted the initial caller, Bates, sitting in a chair in his yard next door, drinking a beer and intently watching the action.
Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office immediately launched an arson investigation. They also called in bloodhounds from Tomoka Correctional Institution to assist with the case. The dogs’ sensitive noses followed the scent of the suspect, which led directly next door to Bates. Investigators already were quite familiar with Bates, who was convicted of a series of arsons last year and is serving 10 years of felony probation.
Bates initially denied he was involved in starting the fire. Later he recanted and admitted to breaking in through a window on the back porch, found a large stack of papers inside and lighting them on the stove and kitchen counter. Authorities said, it took an hour for the fire to burn through the roof and be visible enough for him to finally 911 to report it.
Bates was arrested and booked into the Volusia County Jail in Daytona Beach. He also told investigators during the interview that he was responsible for other unsolved residential fires in recent months. Charges in those cases are forthcoming form the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Bates described himself Wednesday as a “fire bug” and said that he is afraid of what he’s capable of doing, authorities said.
