JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deliberate attempt to set a Moncrief Park home on fire.
A neighbor who spoke to News4JAX said she witnessed the incident at a home on West 24th Street around 3 a.m.
The woman said she walked onto her front porch to cool off after her AC went out and noticed someone approaching the home.
“I saw a man riding a bicycle down the street. He got off his bicycle and walked up to the house, and it looked like he was shaking something in a shaking motion. The next thing I knew, I saw a fire. He ran off,” she said.
Since it was dark outside, she did not get a good look at the man’s face or what he was wearing.
She said a Good Samaritan prevented the fire from spreading.
“Someone was riding down the street, and got out of their car, and put the fire out,” she said.
No one was injured, and the 65-year-old man who was renting the home was not there when the incident happened.
The smell of lighter fluid lingered more than 12 hours after the fire was ignited.
JSO classified the incident as arson.
The woman who witnessed the arson said she was worried about other homes becoming the next target.
“Be vigilant. Look out for each other. Stay safe and pay attention to your surroundings and what’s going on,” she said as a message to others.