EVANGELINE PARISH – A Basile man has been arrested for allegedly setting fire to a friend’s rental home.
Nicholas Fontenot, 24, was booked into the Evangeline Parish Jail on Friday on two counts of simple arson, according to the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal.
The Basile Fire Department responded to a fire at a home in the 3200 block of 2nd Street Friday afternoon. A trailer next door suffered exposure damaged from the fire.
State Fire Marshal deputies were requested to assist with the investigation and determined the fire started near the home’s back door and was intentionally set, according deputies.
Investigators learned Fontenot had recently been invited by a friend to stay at the home. At the time of the fire, Fontenot was the only occupant in the structure.
In an interview with deputies, Fontenot allegedly admitted to setting the fire due to being on drugs. He was then placed under arrest.
