Man rescued from fire charged with setting it

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) — A Warren man who was rescued from an apartment fire is now accused of setting it.

Lonnie Culver is facing an aggravated arson charge in Warren Municipal Court. It stems from the fire at a first-floor apartment on McMyler Street NW. Firefighters were called to the 4-plex just after 8 p.m. Monday.

Fire Chief Ken Nussle says firefighters used rescue tools to get into the apartment through a metal security door. He says firefighters removed Culver from the apartment after finding him pretty much unresponsive in the kitchen.

Nussle said Culver later admitted to setting a bedroom pillow on fire.

“The firefighters at the time didn’t have any idea, they just thought it was accidental, possibly careless smoking — he was a smoker — but come to find out that he admitted to setting the pillow on fire,” Nussle said.

Nussle says fire damage was contained to the first floor apartment.

“I can’t speak for the occupant, I don’t know what he was thinking, but I’m just happy our firefighters were able to get in there nobody was significantly hurt,” Nussle said.

Culver is in the Trumbull County Jail awaiting his arraignment set for Wednesday morning.

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