Fire that gutted century-old Texas courthouse was established deliberately suspect in custody

MASON, Texas (KWTX) – Only the stone partitions were being standing Friday immediately after fire gutted the extra than century-aged Mason County courthouse overnight.

© Supplied by Waco-Temple-Bryan KWTX-Television
The fire that gutted the more than century-aged courthouse was set deliberately, authorities reported.

The hearth that broke out Thursday evening, evidently on the second floor of the 111-yr-aged setting up, was set intentionally, authorities stated Friday.

Load Error

A man was taken into custody in link with the hearth outdoors of Mason, Mason County Judge Jerry Bearden said early Friday afternoon.

The gentleman is also believed to have established a hearth at a household in Mason in advance of the courthouse fire broke out, he reported.

It wasn’t clear Friday night whether or not the suspect to whom Bearden referred was the same guy who led dozens of officers from multiple organizations on a large-speed chase on Interstate 35 from Georgetown to the southern edge of Waco.

McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara verified the gentleman arrested following the chase was needed in relationship with the courthouse hearth and recognized him as Nicholas Jarrett Miller, 41.

Firefighters have been at the scene of the house fire when they obtained a call from the dispatch workplace across the street from the courthouse, Bearden stated.

The dispatcher advised them flames ended up coming from the second floor of the building.

The flames quickly distribute.

“The 2nd flooring, the 3rd flooring and the roof were being wholly engulfed in a issue of minutes. You could see it from miles absent,” Bearden stated.

Crews from various agencies responded, but they weren’t ready to help save the making.

“What we have now are 111-year-aged partitions,” Bearden stated.

“It’s just a awful tragedy for the people below in the county.”

Preparations were underway for renovations at the time of the fireplace and county information and documents experienced been moved to one more web site, but the Mason County News reviews the hearth ruined antique furniture including desks and judges’ benches.

“With God’s blessing, we’re heading to be back again ,” Bearden explained to the newspaper.

Design of the courthouse started in 1909 and was done the up coming 12 months.

The courthouse is the county’s third.

The first, constructed in 1872, and the second, developed in 1900, equally also burned.

Copyright 2021 KWTX. All legal rights reserved.