Arson Suspect Admits To Setting His SW OKC Apartment On Fire

An Oklahoma City man was arrested on Monday on a first-degree arson complaint after city fire officials said Santiago Chan, 39, admitted to setting his apartment on fire.

An alert neighbor at the Hillcrest Residence Apartments near Southwest 59th Street and Blackwelder Avenue saw the fire through her window and called 911.

911 Caller: “Like he turned on his own apartment on fire and then he’s leaving now.”

The call came in just after 3 a.m. The caller described seeing smoke and flames shooting out of a second story apartment.

Fire Dispatch: “Dispatching Engine 25 and all companies. This is going to be apartment 2227.”

Oklahoma City fire crews quickly knocked out the fire. Investigators were called out and stopped Chan for questioning. A resident saw him attempting to leave.

911 Caller: “He already has all his stuff and he’s walking right behind the apartments. I think he’s leaving.”

Fire investigators said Chan admitted to starting the blaze although he did not give them a motive.

“They also confirmed there were about 10 different spots inside of this apartment where fires had been started,” said Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson, Oklahoma City Fire Department. 

Fulkerson said the fire did not spread to anyone else's apartment, but it destroyed Chan's home.

“When you have so many people under the same roof as you, that’s a big concern,” said Fulkerson. “You want to make sure everyone is taken care of and safe.”

Fire crews did not have to evacuate anyone, and no one was hurt by the fire or smoke.