Tyler Newman, 31, who lives with his mother and stepfather at 1996 Musser Lane in Muncy Creek Township, has been arrested on charges of setting a fire in his basement bedroom early Saturday morning, Trooper Nathan Birth, a state police fire marshal, alleged in court papers.

When Newman’s mother was awakened about 3 a,m., she smelled smoke and went to investigate, according to township fire officials. “When she opened the basement door, smoke just rolled out,” one fire officer said. “The occupants quickly called 911 and one of them used a garden hose to try to put the fire out. Once a firefighter reached the scene, all he needed was a portable extinguisher to douse the fire,” the fire company officer said, adding that the fire was confined to the basement.

Birth was notified immediately because there were suspicious circumstances, officials said. It was alleged that after setting a fire in his bedroom, Newman fled the scene, but returned hours later as Birth, who had responded to the home, was just wrapping up his investigation, according to an affidavit. “It was determined that the only competent ignition source (for this fire) would have been a hand-held open flame device,” Birth said, meaning that the fire was intentionally set.

“Upon his return, Newman provided contradicting information as to his whereabouts prior to and during the fire. He was taken into custody on charges of arson and related offenses,” Birth said.

About an hour before the fire, state troopers brought Newman home following “a disturbance” at an establishment in Montgomery, Birth said.

During questioning, Newman told Birth that after state troopers dropped him off, he was home only 15 to 20 minutes and then he left for a convenience store, where he bought food, the affidavit stated. He then made statements to the fire marshal about using a shirt “to start a fire at a cemetery, he believed it was at Twin Hills Cemetery,” the court document stated. He told Birth he “could not remember much more about the night,” adding that he “had been drinking pretty heavily.

When Birth directly asked him if he set a fire in his bedroom, Newman replied “I can’t remember,” according to the affidavit. Newman was arraigned before District Judge Christian Frey on two felony counts each of aggravated arson and arson endangering the lives of others plus one felony count each of reckless burning, causing or risking a catastrophe and criminal mischief. He was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.