Docs: Man called 911 after starting Kzoo fire

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — The man who has been charged for allegedly starting eight fires in Kalamazoo stuck around to watch the buildings burn and called 911 for one of them, court documents said.

According to the probable cause affidavit, 32-year-old George Standard was arrested Thursday morning for allegedly starting fires at the following addresses:

• 121 Allen Boulevard ( June 11 )
• 515 W Walnut St. and 117 Gladys Court ( both June 12 )
• 432 S. Westnedge Ave. ( Aug. 20 )
• 716 Riverview Drive ( Aug. 24 )
• 3111 E Kilgore Road
• 316 E Water St. ( Sept. 3 )
• 563 Portage St.

At the fire on Walnut Street, a Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety firefighter was hurt. At the fire on Riverview Drive, two firefighters suffered from heat exhaustion, court documents said. The fire on Allen Boulevard spread to additional buildings and several people were displaced from their homes.

On Sept. 2, someone called 911 to report the fire on E Walter Street. The phone number, court documents said, belonged to Standard.

During the investigation, a white man was seen on surveillance video multiple times while the fires were actively burning. Court documents said that video surveillance of the fire on Portage Street shows a white man being near the building when the fire started. He is then seen walking into the One the Rocks Store. The video quality was clear enough to identify Standard as the man.

Standard was arrested and interviewed by investigators. During the interview, he initially denied any involvement but quickly changed his story. He admitted to being at several of the fire scenes before admitting to starting eight fires.

On Friday, he was arraigned on charges of three counts of first-degree arson and five counts of third-degree arson.

Stanard is expected back in court Sept. 17. First-degree arson is punishable by up to life in prison. Third-degree arson is punishable by up to 10 years.

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