Officers arrested a 20-year-old man who admitted to intentionally starting a fire that completely engulfed a house in Waukegan Thursday evening.
The Waukegan Fire Department and Waukegan Police Department responded around 8:30 p.m. Thursday to the 300 block of Oak Street for a report of a structure fire.
Waukegan Fire Marshal Todd Zupec said firefighters found flames showing from the front of the house.
Fire crews made an aggressive interior attack to extinguish the fire, Zupec said. The fire had extended into the attic space.
No one was inside the home when fire crews arrived, Zupec said. No injuries were reported.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said the fire was “enormous” and the home was completely engulfed in flames.
Martayvius Rushing, 20, of Waukegan, admitted to his father that he started the fire, Katris said.
Rushing also told detectives that he intentionally started the fire.
The house fire was started when Rushing used cologne to douse a blanket and then lit it on fire, Katris said.
Officers arrested Rushing at the scene and he was later transported to the Lake County Jail.
Rushing was charged with arson, criminal damage to property and criminal trespass to residence.
Katris called Rushing’s behavior reckless and dangerous to the community when asking the court to impose a $150,000 bond.
Lake County Judge George Pappas ordered Rushing held on a $250,000 bond.
Rushing remains held in the jail and would need to post $25,000 cash in order to be released.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on July 19 for a preliminary hearing.