This snapshot shows a car fire outside a home on University in Ferndale.
This snapshot shows a second car burning outside the home.
FERNDALE, Mich. (WJBK) -
Snapshots show two raging car fires burning simultaneously on the 1600 block of University, one in front of a house and one in a driveway. Police say the front porch also started to burn and the flames got dangerously close to the house with eight people inside around 2:30 a.m.
"Woke up. Neighbor next door was screaming in her bedroom window that our car was on fire," Sam Maniaci explained.
He said the family knew right away who might be to blame. Police arrested his 26-year-old son in Hamtramck after they found evidence linking him to the fires. They say a custody battle, which his son lost, may be behind this.
"The suspect in this case was angry with everybody over this, and the fact that his family supported her also seems to have been an impetuous behind his actions," said Lieutenant William Wilson with the Ferndale Police Department.
"It's a long story, but just another sad chapter in it. We'll put it that way," said Maniaci.
Ferndale Police say the suspect's ex-wife and four children and his parents were all inside the house at the time of the fire. Thankfully everyone got out safely, but clearly someone could've been hurt or killed.
"It's a dangerous situation he created, and he was definitely putting lives in danger no matter what his intent was," Wilson said.
The 26-year-old is expected to face felony arson charges. The family says all the damage should be covered by insurance.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:31 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:31:37 GMT
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Saturday, May 25 2013 8:29 PM EDT2013-05-26 00:29:51 GMT
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This snapshot shows a car fire outside a home on University in Ferndale.
This snapshot shows a second car burning outside the home.
