UPDATE: Centralia house fire being investigated as suspicious, arrest made

UPDATE 6/9: Jebadiah Romine has now been arrested on suspicion of arson in the 2nd degree.

Boone County Sheriffs Department confirmed he is possibly connected to Thursday’s fire.

A witness reported seeing him walking away from the house, and he made incriminating statements.

Romine’s bond is $4,500.

UPDATE 5:40 P.M.: A man has been arrested and could face second degree arson charges for the suspicious Centralia house fire. He was identified as the person inside or around the home at the time of the fire. The police discovered that someone was involved through witness statements.

The suspect is currently in custody at the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, but Centralia police made the initial arrest.

The Columbia Fire Marshall and an arson dog are on scene investigating.

UPDATE 4:36 P.M.: According to the Boone County Fire Protection District, the house fire is now being investigated as a suspicious fire. The Boone Coutny Fire Proteciton District also said that there was one person inside of the home at the time of the fire, even though initial reports said that there wasn’t.

UPDATE 3:10 P.M.: The fire started in the front porch and living room area of the single-residence home. No one was inside at the time of the fire, and authorities are working to notify the homeowners.

Two investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.

ORIGINAL STORY: Several emergency crews are on the scene of a house fire in Centralia Thursday afternoon.

Crews first responded to the scene around 1:40 Thursday.

It happened in the 11000 block of Rodney Griffin street.

Dispatch records show at least 12 units are on the scene and a picture shows heavy smoke coming from the structure.

ABC 17 News has crews on the way to find out if anyone was hurt in the fire and what started it.

We’ll update this story as we confirm more details.