Pugh

Pugh

BUCKHANNON — The chief of the Ellamore Volunteer Fire Department is facing a felony charge after allegedly setting fire to a cabin.

Jamie L. Pugh, 42, is charged with setting fire to the lands of another. His bond was set at $10,000 by Upshur County Magistrate Judge John Coffman.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Senior Natural Resources Police Officer T.R. Collins of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, on March 30, Pugh allegedly set fire to a cabin located on Little Sand Run Road that belonged to Ralph Joseph Parsons.

The report states that at approximately 2:01 p.m., Pugh drove up and down the road in his Dodge Durango, then stopped and exited his vehicle.

“Approximately 16 seconds later, smoke started from the spot (where) he stopped and exited his vehicle,” Collins wrote in the complaint, noting that a homeowner’s video recorded the incident.

Later, Pugh reportedly told officers he had seen the homeowner’s video and that his vehicle was in it, adding that he was having vehicle problems that caused the fire.

According to Collins, Pugh also stated that he turned around because there were kids playing by the abandoned, burning house and because of “a loud boom.”

The report states that while being questioned on Nov. 11, Pugh admitted to lying about the vehicle causing the fire, the kids playing and the loud boom.

“He then admitted he started the fire with a lighter for unknown reasons,” Collins wrote.

According to Pugh’s criminal bail agreement, he must refrain from responding to any emergency call while on bond.

If convicted, Pugh could be fined from $500 to $5,000, be imprisoned for one to five years, or both, at the discretion of the court.

Pugh has been chief of the Ellamore VFD for seven years.