Firefighters in Southfield did not have to travel far for their latest call. Police say a local man walked behind a city fire station on Tuesday, poured gasoline, set it on fire, and took off, leaving crews to put out a blaze at their own house.
The fire scorched a garage door, an entry door, and sections of vinyl siding. Firefighters who were inside the station were not reported injured, and a crew returning from a run spotted the flames and quickly knocked them down. The suspect was arrested later that afternoon and is now facing a felony arson charge.
What police say
Officers were called around 12:16 p.m. to the station at 20135 Twelve Mile Road after a report of a fire behind the building. Investigators allege the suspect, identified as Devon Woodson, poured gasoline, lit it, and fled.
Police say Woodson was taken into custody at about 3 p.m. The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office authorized one count of second-degree arson. A judge set bond at $10,000 cash or surety, with 10 percent allowed, and ordered a GPS tether. Woodson is scheduled to appear in court on March 6, according to Metro Detroit News.
Charges and penalties
Prosecutors have charged Woodson with second-degree arson. Under Michigan law, that offense covers willfully or maliciously burning a dwelling or its contents and is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and significant fines, per the Michigan Legislature. Prosecutors will have to prove intent and other required elements at upcoming hearings.
Local fire department context
The Southfield Fire Department operates five stations and, as the city notes, handled 16,479 calls in 2023, making it one of the busiest departments in Oakland County. That pace means crews are frequently coming and going, and any incident on department property can create both safety issues for firefighters and staffing headaches for the city, according to the City of Southfield.
Past incidents and risk
Arson investigators across the region have been busy in recent years. In Detroit, authorities have been looking into a pair of fires at a historic church, with police still seeking a suspect in those blazes, as reported by ClickOnDetroit. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office also charged a man in connection with a 2023 gas station fire, highlighting how deliberately set fires can quickly threaten lives and property…