A 26-year-old Northumberland man has narrowly avoided jail after setting his own house on fire—just to watch firefighters in action.
James Brown, who admitted to having a bizarre obsession with the fire service, sparked two fires in one night, calling emergency crews to his home both times. The first blaze, started with bed linens, was swiftly handled. But just 90 minutes later, despite a disconnected power supply, Brown claimed the same meter had caught fire again.
Firefighters grew suspicious when they discovered Brown filming their response. Authorities later revealed he had called the fire brigade 80 times in the past year.
Brown pleaded guilty to two counts of arson and was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. He must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work. His lawyer said Brown is now seeking psychological help and is “extremely remorseful.”