Idaho firefighters arrive at burning house; find owner naked, covered in Magic Marker

FireRescue1 News


Print Talk BackRegister RSSWhat's This


Idaho firefighters arrive at burning house; find owner naked, covered in Magic Marker

By Nick Draper 
Idaho Falls Post Register
Copyright 2007 The Post Register
All Rights Reserved 

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Officials aren't sure what caused a house fire Wednesday night in Idaho Falls.

When fire crews arrived to the blaze, which started at about 9:30 p.m. at 925 Jefferson Ave., they saw homeowner Darrell Moss lighting a fire outside his home, according to a police report.

The 57-year-old was naked and had red Magic Marker writing all over his chest and legs, with one drawing depicting a heart with an arrow through it, the report stated.

Fire personnel tried to get Moss away from the house because ammunition was going off inside, but he wouldn't cooperate and started fighting with police.

Authorities had to restrain Moss by strapping him to an ambulance backboard, the report said.

He was later taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center - where he was combative with medical staff - and treated for smoke inhalation.

He remains hospitalized and listed in fair condition.

Police continue to investigate the incident and haven't charged Moss, who according to the report had been in the hospital recently to receive treatment for mental problems.

A neighbor reported the fire after seeing smoke coming out of the roof, front and back doors of the house.

A report from the Idaho Falls Fire Department said the fire ignited in one of the main bedrooms on the ground floor.

Crews contained the fire in that same bedroom, but not before it caused extensive smoke damage to the main floor.

The blaze caused an estimated $75,000 worth of damage to the home. 




LexisNexis Copyright © 2008 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.    Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy




Print Talk BackRegister RSSWhat's This






 Most Popular
Firefighters face roadside vest regulations Fireworks accident kills Mo. firefighter Texas volunteer fire chief dies after fighting blaze Calif. firefighter spreading word of occupational cancer dangers Heart attack suspected in Calif. firefighter's death
All Popular Articles


Featured Product Categories
Air Products Gas Detection Specialty Vehicles Exhaust Removal Systems Rope Rescue
View All Categories


Today's Top Stories
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
New Shreveport, La., chief announced Weather threatens progress in Calif. Ohio volunteer firefighter killed in rollover Tornado damages N.D. homes Burn unit closure concerns Tenn. firefighters New Calif. blaze threatens thousands
Line-Of-Duty Deaths
Robert Knight - 07/07/2008 - [Teague, Texas] Robert Roland - 07/06/2008 - [Mendocino County, California] Michael MacDonald - 07/01/2008 - [Missoula, Montana]

Submit information on fallen firefighters in your area.

Line of Duty Deaths

FireRescue1 Exclusive
Full Story...
Firefighters face roadside vest regulations
Firefighters may have one more thing to consider when tackling car fires and other roadway incidents from next year on – the use of a safety vest.
Full Story
Past Exclusives

Featured Columnist
Albert Einstein Medical Center
Fireground Medical Operations
Fireground Medical Screening Exam – Part 7 Fireground Medical Screening Exam – Part 6 Fireground Medical Screening Exam – Part 5
All Columnists