LANCASTER, S.C. — Deputies say they arrested a former volunteer firefighter on Thursday for setting a vacant home on fire twice in Lancaster, South Carolina.
Quentin Belton, 31, was arrested on April 1st and charged with three counts of arson for his involvement in the case, according to a news release.
Quentin Belton
Detectives say on December 5th, 2020 firefighters arrived at a vacant home up in flames on 1st Street in Lancaster, South Carolina around 10 p.m.
Firefighters were able to extinguish these flames, but the building suffered substantial damage to the back wall, where detectives believe the fire was started.
Detectives say an investigation was launched from there due to the suspicious cause and origin of the flames.
Police say another fire at the same home was reported on Wednesday, March 31st at 9:15 p.m., and the home was completely destroyed by the time firefighters showed up.
Officials say Belton was a volunteer firefighter with the Gooches Fire Department before being terminated on Friday, after police found evidence linked to the second fire at the home Belton was staying at.
Detectives say Belton is charged with arson-third degree for the first fire and arson-third degree for the second fire, and is also charged with arson-second degree for damage caused to a neighbor’s property during the second fire.
Belton is being held under a $20,000 bond at the Lancaster County Detention Center, according to a news release.
“Investigators immediately began looking at Belton for the first fire but did not develop enough evidence to make a charge,” said Sheriff Barry Faile. “Unfortunately, he struck again. This time he left enough of a trail for us to put together a good case, and we confronted Belton with this evidence and were able to charge him. This arrest is the result of the joint efforts of the sheriff’s office, the Multijurisdictional Violent Crime Task Force, the fire marshal, Lancaster County Fire and Rescue, and SLED.”
