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24-year-old arrested, charged with arson in connection with Botetourt County house fire

Deputies said they saw him walk out of the home with a gas can

James Wade, 24, is charged with starting this house fire on June 9, 2021, in Botetourt County. (Botetourt County Department of Fire & EMS / Botetourt County Sheriff's Office)

BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. – A Big Island man is in jail as authorities believe he intentionally set a house on fire on Wednesday afternoon.

At 11:53 a.m., Botetourt County deputies responded to a reported domestic dispute on Willow Wood Drive, near the Botetourt County and Roanoke County border.

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They arrived to find James Wade, 24, exiting the home and holding what they said appeared to be a gas can.

Wade complied with the deputies’ commands and was taken into custody, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Once they had arrested Wade, they noticed smoke and flames coming from inside the home.

No one else was inside the home when deputies arrived at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

In responding to the fire, one firefighter was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Wade is being held without bond on charges of malicious wounding, arson of an occupied dwelling, domestic assault and property damage.