Homeless person admits to starting Tuesday morning fire on Quincy’s northwest side

QUINCY — No charges are being filed against a homeless person who admitted to starting a Tuesday morning fire on Quincy’s northwest side.

The Quincy Police Department and Quincy Fire Department were dispatched to a house fire at 828 N. Sixth just before 1 a.m. Tuesday, April 8. Detectives were called at 4:30 a.m. to assist fire department investigators, since the fire appeared to have no natural causes because all utilities had been cut off at the property. 

Information was shared with Quincy Police that led to a suspect being identified. Detectives located the person, who was reported to be homeless. 

During an interview, the suspect revealed he had a candle burning for heat on an enclosed porch area at the rear of the residence when a raccoon made its way onto the porch. The suspect tried to remove the raccoon by throwing the candle at the raccoon. The raccoon did not leave, and the candle then caught a mop on fire, which the suspect then used to try to remove the raccoon. However, it only spread the fire.

The suspect then tried to extinguish the blaze, but by that point, the fire had grown out of control, spread into the ceiling and throughout the residence. He summoned the neighbors to call the fire department. The property owner was aware of the subject sleeping on the enclosed porch. The suspect was questioned and released, and the reports from QPD will be forwarded to the Adams County States Attorney’s Office for review.