A House Fire With an Unusual Twist
A 31-year-old Jacksonville, North Carolina man is facing multiple charges after authorities say he set fire to his own home and then stole a fire department vehicle that responded to the scene. Anthony Biz is being held in Onslow County jail without bond as the case moves forward.
Firefighters Arrive to a House Already Engulfed
Firefighters responded to a home on Nelson Drive just past 3 p.m. Saturday and found the house already engulfed in flames. According to court paperwork, Biz owned the home and allegedly set the fire himself. No residents or first responders were injured in the incident.
A Battalion Vehicle Goes Missing Mid-Response
While crews worked to control the fire, someone noticed a battalion command vehicle had disappeared from the scene. Investigators allege Biz took the city-owned vehicle while firefighters were occupied battling the blaze, prompting a regional search. Pender County dispatchers eventually alerted Jacksonville authorities that the stolen vehicle had been located abandoned along NC Highway 50.
Charges Filed
Biz faces charges including fraudulently burning a dwelling, larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and unauthorized burning. Officials have not released additional details about the condition of the home or the recovered fire department vehicle.
Case Moving Forward
Biz was scheduled to appear before a judge Monday, and Jacksonville police are asking for any additional information from the public as the investigation continues. As with any pending case, Biz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.