Landlord Accused Of Arson Blasts 'We Didn't Start The Fire' As Building Burns: Report

DULUTH, MN — A Duluth landlord is charged with arson after he set fire to his own building and blasted the Billy Joel classic “We Didn’t Start the Fire” as emergency personnel rushed to the scene, according to WDIO.

The incident occurred around 4 a.m. May 18 at a duplex in the 2400 block of West Fourth Street, according to the Duluth Fire Department, which added that crews arrived to find flames visible on the second story.

Travis Lee Carlson was seen by a neighbor with gas cans under his vehicle and smashing his windows at the time of the blaze, WDIO reported, noting the 37-year-old did alert his tenants about the fire.

“He had left by the time responders arrived, but the Billy Joel chart-topper was heard blasting from the flames,” according to WDIO.

All residents and a cat safely escaped, but three people were displaced, according to the fire department, which noted damage from the blaze is estimated at $25,000.