Firefighters discovered a man trying to ignite more fires as they were dousing flames he had already started inside a business Saturday night.
“This was a first for us” says Longmont Chief of Fire Jerrod Vanlandingham. “You don’t typically expect to encounter an arsonist lighting fires at the time you are trying to extinguish them.”
That man now sits in the Boulder County Jail facing felony arson and burglary charges.
“Our crews had little choice but to tackle the suspect, subdue him and drag him out of the building to awaiting police officers,” Vanlandingham continued. “These firefighters went above and beyond their call of duty by taking these actions, but most likely saved lives and property in doing so.”
Longmont Fire was notified by alarm of possible fire activity at Budget Home Supply, a locally owned home improvement warehouse at 780 Boston Avenue. Crews found heavy smoke and multiple fires inside the facility — and Michael Schrodt, 54, allegedly trying to light more fires.