ROMEO (WWJ) - A suspect has been arrested for allegedly intentionally starting a fire that spread across M-53 in northern Macomb County.
Romeo Police Chief Sokolnicki said the call came in around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday about smoke behind a block of condominiums along M-53, near 32 Mile Road.
"It turned out to be a brush fire that was started by an individual, that ended up getting out of control and crossing the freeway," he told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "It crossed M-53 and continued over towards the Ford engine plant."
There was a lot of black smoke; and, with the winds, Sokolnicki said, the fire quickly spread to cover nearly two acres.
It took firefighters from the Bruce Township/Romeo Fire Department, along with Armada and Washington Township departments working together to extinguish the blaze, the chief said.
Fortunately, there were no injuries.
There is no known motive in the case, but Sokolnicki said that it does not appear that the suspect was aiming to harm anyone in the condos, which were not damaged.
"Luckily the wind was traveling to the east, where the condos were on the west side of the fire," Sokolnicki said.
Romeo police will seek arson charges against the person in custody. His or her name has not yet been released.
