Man suspected of intentionally setting fires in Estero community

ESTERO, Fla.- Authorities say a string of fires in a community were all intentionally set.

Fire after fire popped up in the Copper Oaks community Tuesday night.

Residents released a sigh of relief when deputies took Corey Melone into custody as a suspect.

Deputies tell WINK News Melone deliberately set three fires, one after the other, in the quiet neighborhood.

“I noticed that there was a substantial fire right behind my house,” said Rob Hillard.

He had just stepped outside when he turned around and saw smoke billowing into the sky.

“I went in, told my wife to get the kids and get out of the house.”

Deputies say when they arrived on scene, they spotted Melone and that’s when he made a run for it. But the deputy’s K-9 partner was quick to catch up.

“He’s bold, ’cause all the cops were down there and then he came down here and started another one while they were done there.”

Lesley Asewicz could still smell the smoke when she woke up Wednesday morning.

“Thank God we weren’t sleeping or it wasn’t dark outside, because then none of us would have really known and a lot of us could have gotten hurt.”

Officials say Melone had two lighters in his pocket that were taken as evidence.

While deputies suspect Melone started the fires, he’s only currently being detained for an out-of-county warrant and for resisting arrest.