Police: Man sets house on fire, leads police on high-speed chase

An early-morning house fire in East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, has escalated into an arson investigation, resulting in the arrest of a man facing over 50 charges. The suspect, William Kurtz, allegedly ignited a home located on the 1100 block of 2nd Street after allegedly pouring gasoline around its perimeter. At the time of the fire, more than ten people were inside the residence.

Residents described the harrowing moments as one individual noticed flames around 1 a.m. and quickly ensured that everyone exited the house safely. Despite attempts to extinguish the fire using buckets of water and an extinguisher, the situation escalated. Fortunately, fire crews confirmed that all occupants escaped unharmed.

Following the fire, police promptly identified Kurtz as the primary suspect. He fled the scene in his truck, which was located nearby at a Sheetz. When officers attempted to apprehend him, Kurtz engaged in a high-speed pursuit toward Harrisburg. The chase concluded in an area known as "Tent City," where he abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot into nearby woods.

During his capture, Kurtz resisted arrest, prompting officers to use a Taser multiple times before taking him into custody. As the investigation unfolded, he reportedly confessed to intentionally setting the fire, claiming his intent was not to harm anyone but rather to scare the occupants due to a debt owed to him.

In addition to the charges of arson and evading police, authorities discovered an open bottle of vodka and a single-shot shotgun in Kurtz's vehicle. The case highlights the serious consequences of reckless behavior and emphasizes the dangers posed by arson to community safety.