Man charged with arson in Waynesboro fire

A Michigan man has been charged with arson in a March 16 fire at 715 Rosser Avenue in Waynesboro that damaged 14 trees.

Dustin Thomas Fournier, 29, of Escanaba, Mich., is being held at Middle River Regional Jail on a felony warrant for malicious burning.

The fire was reported at 7:58 p.m. on March 16. Upon responding from the station, crews could see heavy black smoke in the area. Arriving on the scene at 8:04 p.m. fire personnel discovered two rows of 15 to 20’ Thuja trees planted at the property heavily involved in fire.

Fire personnel worked to extinguish the flames quickly having completely extinguished the fire at 8:20 pm and marking the situation under control at 9:18 pm.

The Thuja trees sustained severe damage as a result of the fire with 14 of the 17 trees being burned to different degrees. The Waynesboro Fire Marshal estimates the total fire loss to be approximately $8,000.

The cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary due to evidence found at the fire scene and area witness statements. An arson investigation conducted by the Waynesboro Fire Marshal’s Office with the assistance of the Waynesboro Police Department Investigations Unit has resulted in the arrest of Fournier on March 21.