A Centreville man has been charged with arson in connection with a fire at the home where he was a renter. He is Giancarlo Deleon, 25, and the fire was at a single-family home on Scotch Run Court.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded there last Thursday, Feb. 13, around 12:30 a.m. And despite heavy snow and dangerous driving conditions, firefighters arrived at the scene quickly. They encountered flames coming from the basement of the three-story house and spreading to a neighboring home.
A second alarm was immediately requested, bringing more than 60 firefighters to the scene. Besides units from both Centreville stations 17 and 38, firefighters and equipment responded from the Chantilly, Fair Oaks, Fairfax and Oakton stations.
Firefighters conducted an interior attack and were able to bring the blaze under control in approximately 10 minutes. Four occupants of the home were displaced and are receiving help from the American Red Cross.
The residents were home when the fire began, but were able to safely escape. No one was injured; however, fire officials estimated the damage to the home at $100,000. In addition, the adjacent home received approximately $5,000 damage.
Deleon was arrested at the scene and charged with two felonies. Fire officials say he allegedly intentionally set fire to clothes that were saturated with an ignitable liquid. According to Fire Department spokesman Dan Schmidt, “Conversations with him and with other witnesses led to him being charged.”
Deleon was charged with arson of an occupied dwelling and maliciously setting a fire to wood/grass. He was scheduled for arraignment Wednesday morning in General District Court.