Fire on High Street in Watertown
/ photo courtesy Newzjunky
WATERTOWN -- A Watertown man turned himself in Tuesday afternoon for his role in a dangerous fire on High Street.
Watertown Police say Joshua Metzler, 25, called 911 at about 6:30 p.m. to turn himself in. Police had already searched Metzler's home on State Street, less than a quarter of a mile away from the apartment building that burned Tuesday morning.
Firefighters say they were called to an apartment building at 239 High Street at around 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Watertown Fire Department Battalion Chief Paul Fitzgerald says when the first crews arrived, they found heavy fire and smoke, with flames blocking the two staircases. Witnesses had reported seeing someone pouring gasoline on the building.
Two people suffered smoke inhalation. Another was injured when she jumped from her second story window.
Metzler has been charged with arson in the second degree. He is being held at the Public Safety Building before his arraignment Wednesday.
