Were fires started to attract la

A Philadelphia man was arrested Feb. 9 after he allegedly started a fire near the old abandoned Walmart building on Highway 411 in Madisonville.

Madisonville Police Detective Daniel Dockery said police and fire officers responded to a fire call and found a man they had earlier investigated on a vandalism call.

Dockery said they talked to the man, identified as Christopher Fordham, and gave him a blanket to keep warm, but didn’t charge him with any crime. He told the officers he was going to the old Walmart.

Dockery said they couldn’t find the blanket they’d given him and Fordham said he wanted to be taken into custody. At one point, Fordham allegedly became angry and hit the hood of a Madisonville police car, leaving a dent in it.

Fire officials said the fire near the store had been going for less than 30 minutes when they responded and put it out.

Dockery said he had arrested Fordham in 2022 when he started a fire near a building on Englewood Road. Dockery believes each time he started the fire to get the attention of law enforcement.

Fordham, 36, Blue Springs Road, Philadelphia, was charged with arson and vandalism under $1,000.