BECKLEY, W.Va. — Investigators with the state Fire Marshal’s Office have charged a Beckley man with setting fire to the house that used to be the home of former West Virginia Gov. Hullett Smith.
Authorities arrested David Cole, 30, Friday evening and charged him with first-degree arson.
Cole alleged set fire to the large home on Crestview Drive not far from the West Virginia Turnpike last Sunday night.
He’s also charged with conspiracy to commit a felony.
The Fire Marshal’s Office said it expects to make another arrest in the coming days.
MetroNews spoke with Mabscott Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tim Zutaut the morning after the fire
“It was definitely arson, there was no utilities left on the house, so someone definitely set it,” Zutaut said.
There wasn’t much firefighters could do.
“Well, the property is gutted. We supplied massive amounts of water, along with Sophia Area Fire Department and Bradley Fire Department,” Zutaut said. “We basically surrounded the house and drowned it. That’s about all you can do in a situation like that.”
Zutaut also said that they had received two calls in the last three weeks about attempts to set the house on fire.
Cole is being held in the Southern Regional Jail. Bail has yet to be set.