Police said a devastating fire that left at least 12 people homeless in Johnstown Thanksgiving night was intentionally set.
Investigators told 6 News James McDonald set a box on fire near a Coleman Avenue home and walked away.

The criminal complaint details a violent past between McDonald and a woman who police said lived next door to the empty house that was set on fire. Court documents said he assaulted her one week before the fire and even called her the day of the fire.

 A state police fire marshal had already ruled the cause of the fire undetermined because there was too much damage to find a cause. But Johnstown police conducted their own investigation and now less than a month later they don't only have a cause they've arrested the man they say set it.

"We began investigating it as a suspicious fire and almost immediately were able to obtain information regarding this individual to have been in the area at the time the fire started," said Johnstown Police Chief Craig Foust.

Police said McDonald told them he first placed a bible in the neighborhood and said some prayers. They said he then lit a box on fire near a vacant home which spread to a mattress and eventually three homes.

"Our main concern was the girls, that they would have clothes and a place to live," said Elisa Overman, who was displaced by the fire.

She said she's never heard of McDonald but had a strong message for him.

"I would probably beat him up," said Overman. "He left my kids homeless and they're my main concern right now."

With Christmas only two weeks away she said she's worried she won't be able to make it special for her girls. But she said she thanks a local grassroot group called Second Chance Fire Recovery for helping her out.

"Basically everything in the house was donated to us or given to us," she said. "We've had so many donations and we're still getting stuff. I'm just thankful no one was hurt."

McDonald is in the Cambria County Prison facing several felony charges.

Second Chance Fire Recovery is still accepting donations, not only for the victims displaced by this fire, but for victims of other local fires. Right now they said they could use some Christmas gifts, especially for younger children.


The group can be reached at 814-535-8524.