Apartment Building, Residential Modesto, CA – Single sprinkler controls intentionally set fire by man under influence of methamphetamine January 14, 2015 viking210 A Modesto man who set a pair of socks on fire to ward off a perceived intruder was arrested Sunday. Police say the man had been smoking methamphetamine earlier in the day. “These apartments have sprinkler systems,” said Modesto Fire Department Battalion Chief Hugo Patino. “One sprinkler activated and held the fire in check.” The incident occurred in the 2800 block of West Rumble Road just after 7 p.m., said Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves. Officers believe the man might have been hallucinating due to drug use when he set the socks on fire. Graves said the suspect believed someone was trying to break into his home and thought the fire would scare him off. The burning socks subsequently caught the bedroom on fire and the man had to evacuate with his wife and two children.
