ORANGE PARK, Fla. — UPDATE: Clay County sheriff's deputies have arrested the man accused of starting a fire at a business in Orange Park. Noah Coffin is now facing arson charges.
🔺UPDATE 5.2.2019, 9PM: Noah Coffin has been arrested for Arson to an Occupied Structure. He is currently being booked into our jail. Again, we appreciate the help of everyone. https://t.co/fElEWrew4I
— Clay County Sheriff's Office, FL (@ccsofl) May 3, 2019
Clay County sheriff's deputies have captured a man listed as a person of interest in a fire they believe was intentionally set at a fencing store Thursday morning.
The fire happened in Orange Park along Blanding Boulevard near Orange Park Mall.
Noah Coffin is the man police were looking for in connection to that fire and he does has a criminal history. CCSO said Coffin was speakign with them around 6 p.m.
The fire was so intense flames were viewed from afar and it caused an inconvenience for many businesses and a home in the area.
Shortly after 6:00 a.m. Thursday, Action News Jax viewers captured cellphone video of the huge flames shooting from abusiness.
One man who didn’t want to identified said he was nearby as the fire burned.
MORE: VIDEO: Building on fire on Blanding Blvd. near Orange Park Mall | Photos: Building caught fire on Blanding Blvd.; Deputies search for person of interest
“I walked out to the parking lot and the guy they think started the fire was in the parking lot. I followed him out I saw the smoke I came over here and then the propane tanks blew up,” the main said.
Clay county deputies believe that guy he saw was Coffin.
The owner of R-Champ fencing told Action News Jax Coffin came to his business yesterday asking for a job.
The owner told him he didn’t have any openings and he came back Thursday morning to find his building burned down.
UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
Sky Action News Jax flew over the scene after the flames were contained.
Pernisha Pope manages a beauty salon next to where the fire happened she said she was forced to start her day late because of the fire.
“Like, in the blink of an eye, my dreams and everything could’ve been gone that would’ve just been horrible,” Pope said.
Coffin’s criminal background shows he is on probation and was recently arrested in January for stealing a car and driving without a license.
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