Peyton Bloxton
A Carson City man was arrested Sunday afternoon after he allegedly started his house on fire by throwing matches onto his mattress.
Peyton Bloxton, 51, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree and second-degree arson. According to the arrest report, he was lying in the front of the house, which was on fire, when deputies were able to pull him away. Bloxton was crying and told investigators he wanted to die.
The majority of the house burned; the fire was put out by 6 p.m.
Bloxton reportedly told investigators he went into his room after a fight with his girlfriend, drank liquor and began to light matches and throw them onto his bed. Once the bed was on fire, he exited the house and told his neighbors his house was “going up,” according to the arrest report.
“It’s quite apparent it started with a domestic issue,” Sheriff Ken Furlong said. “He has an expansive history” with law enforcement.
He said of Bloxton allegedly burning his house down, “It seems to be a very deep anger issue.”
The intent was apparent to investigators.
“The arson charges are absolutely appropriate,” Furlong said.
When firefighters arrived, it was clear the house was on fire but the exact location wasn’t. Within two minutes, when firefighters were trying to enter the structure, the fire spread quickly to the back of the house and ignited the back patio, Carson City Fire Chief Stacey Giomi said.
The fire blew out the back window and burned neighboring fences, two trees, a shed and a chicken coop. Although it only took 15 minutes to knock down the majority of the fire, a blown-out electrical unit electrified the interior, making it unsafe for firefighters until power could be turned off.
First-degree arson is the intentional burning of buildings, and second-degree is the intentional burning of abandoned buildings.
Bloxton was being held with bail set at $65,000. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 775-885-2020 or Secret Witness at 775-322-4900.