Man accused of starting fires in Springfield Township home while wife, 3 children slept

Wife tells Sheriff's Office fires were set by husband in retaliation during divorce

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A 38-year-old Springfield Township man is accused of starting three fires in his home while his wife and three children were sleeping.

In a statement, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said the wife was awakened around 2 a.m. Monday in the home on Cherrywood Road to fires on a comforter and in a closet and laundry room.

A 17-year-old son kicked open the door of the locked laundry room and was able to put the fire out. The wife and two other children, a 15-year-old daughter and 10-year-old daughter, used pans of water to put out the other fires before firefighters arrived, the Sheriff's Office said.

The Sheriff's Office said the wife told them she is going through a divorce and her husband started the fires in retaliation for her not speaking to him.

"I knew they were having some problems, I did know that," said neighbor Harold Wilson. He said he never imagined it would come to this.

Fire investigators ruled the incidents arson.

"I met him, he seemed like a real nice guy," Wilson said.

The woman said her and the children won't be able to stay in their home for Christmas and will spend the holiday with family members. She said they will be displaced for about a month or two.

The husband is being held in the Oakland County Jail, pending the issuance of a warrant. He is set to be arraigned Tuesday morning.