By FireRescue1 Staff
FRENCHTOWN CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A man accused of setting two fires inside an apartment building applied to be a firefighter two months ago.
Monroe News reported that Mason Watkins, 22, was charged with first-degree arson after setting two fires in laundry rooms on separate floors; his bail was set at $100,000. He was on scene at both fires and lived in the complex. No one was injured and damage was minimal.
Frenchtown Township Fire Chief Wendy Stevens said Watkins was never interviewed for the paid on-call position.
“We had no interaction with him,” Chief Stevens said. “He was never in our sights.”
Watkins was arrested after fire officials contacted police about seeing him a second time on scene.
A preliminary hearing will be held April 18.