Man Confesses to Setting Haddam House on Fire [UPDATED]

Ronald Carlson of Portsmouth, Va., brother of Tom Carlson, was arrested on arson and burglary charges after he admitted to setting fire to his brother’s house, WFSB reports.

The house was located at 575 Candlewood Hill Rd. The home was fully involved upon arrival, according to the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company. No one was at home at the time of the fire. The detached barn had already burned to the ground, State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance said.

Crews pulled water from a pond at the base of the home’s driveway and dumped into a portable holding tank to supply water to the fire scene. The house and a detached two-car garage were a total loss.

“Troopers from the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigative Unit subsequently determined the fire to be arson,” Vance said. “As the investigation was ongoing, the accused, Ronald Carlson (DOB 04/04/64) of 5620 Michael Lane in Portsmouth, Virginia, presented himself to State Police Troopers and verbally explained that he set the fire and that it was his brother’s house.”

He was taken into custody without incident and State Police Major Crime Squad personnel responded to the scene and assumed the criminal investigation. Vance said the accused Carlson was transported to the Shoreline Clinic in Westbrook for medical treatment due to burns to his arms and face. While at the clinic, Carlson gave a confession to the incident, according to Vance.

The accused’s injuries required that he be transported to the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Unit. The accused was escorted under State Police guard to the Bridgeport Burn Unit.

Carlson was charged with arson in the first degree and burglary in the third degree. He is being held on $500,000 and will be arraigned in Superior Court when medically possible, Vance said.

The investigation remains open and ongoing at this time.

Click here to read the full WFSB article.

Photo Credit: Haddam Volunteer Fire Company