By Jessyka Heredia
July 4, 2023 (Lemon Grove) --
“A man is behind bars on suspicion of setting a house on fire in Lemon Grove,” the San Diego County Sheriffs department states in a press release.
The incident was originally reported as a vehicle fire by Heartland fire, but the story has a lot more to it. A man that resides in the home at 1514 Taft Street in Lemon Grove was attacked with a knife and his home was set on fire by his assailant, says Sergeant Jason Phillips.
Andy Keller The Public Information Officer (PIO) for Heartland Fire said that “the call was dispatched at 3:18 p.m.” with the fire knocked down at 3:33pm. “There were two civilian injuries. Both adults were transported to UCSD,” said Keller, adding that there were “no injuries to any firefighters.
Keller said, “The fire began in a van parked next to the home and spread to the structure. The exact cause is still under investigation.”
However, the Sheriff statement tells a bigger story once the smoke had settled, and the fire was out.
“During the preliminary investigation, deputies located a man in the backyard of the home with a puncture wound to his right leg,” the Sheriff’s department statement indicates. “A deputy applied a tourniquet to the victim's leg and got him to safety. He was taken to a hospital for further treatment.”
Deputies learned Mario "Marina" Milton,29, assaulted the victim and lit the house on fire with a torch, the Sheriff’s department alleges. The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit was called in to assist with the investigation.
While firefighters were mopping up the fire, a dog was found deceased inside the home. The fire caused major damage to the garage and living room.
Milton was transported to the hospital to be evaluated for smoke inhalation and arrested on numerous charges, including arson, assault with a deadly weapon and cruelty to animals.
The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is a regional resource that investigates fires involving suspicious circumstances, serious injuries, and death.”
Loreen Madsen who lives across the street said, “I was in my backyard enjoying my pool when I heard some pops and came out and saw the fire” Madsen said, “the man that lives there is nice. Sometimes I see him walking his dogs.”
Mike Roze-Post who lives a few doors down on Taft said he thought “it was definitely firework related” Roze-Post said when he walked up to the scene to see what was happening that, “this place was in flames, and I heard all the popping from the fireworks. ECM was not able to verify there were any fireworks at the home from either the sheriff or the fire department. We can confirm sounds of popping were present during the fire which could be caused by many different sources in the home or vehicle.
Keller from Heartland Fire added that”Less than 50% of the home was saved and the estimated loss is about $500K.”
Keller stated that “There were 26 fire personnel on scene and along with Heartland Fire & Rescue, the cooperating agencies were San Miguel Fire Rescue, San Diego Fire Rescue, San Diego Sheriff, America Medical Rescue.”