Arrest Made in Fairfield Arsons

Three vacant homes were set on fire overnight, officials said.

Fairfield police arrested a man in connection with several arsons to vacant homes.

Christopher Message, 34, of Valley Road, was charged with three counts of arson 1st degree and one count of burglary 1st degree on Thursday.

Three fires were set within an hour and 20 minutes of each other early Thursday morning in vacant homes that are for sale on North Benson Road, Cornell Road and Woodridge Avenue, fire officials said.

A fire started at 1300 North Benson Road around 2:20 a.m., Fairfield emergency officials said.
Then, at 3 a.m., a resident reported the smell of smoke near her home and firefighters found a blaze at 321 Woodbridge Ave.

One firefighter who responded to the second fire was injured by a hose coupling and went to the hospital for treatment.

At 3:40 a.m., 911 dispatchers received a report of a fire at 53 Cornell Road. One firefighter suffered second-degree burns to his hand and face and was transported to Bridgeport Hospital. The three fires happened days after fires at other vacant homes up for sale, officials said.

On Monday morning two fires were set within minutes of each other around 2 a.m. at 50 Chatham Road. Another fire occurred after 11 p.m. on 349 Stratfield Road.  Message is also expected to face charges for the arsons.

Officials said Message is a suspect in several fires in nearby municipalities. He is being held on $1.5 million bond and is expected to be arraigned in Bridgeport on Friday. 
 

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