Chattanooga, TN – A 40-year-old man is facing charges after investigators say he intentionally set multiple fires in a busy commercial area along Shallowford Road on February 8.
According to the Chattanooga Fire Department, crews were first dispatched at approximately 8 a.m. to a Walgreens at the corner of Shallowford Road and Gunbarrel Road. Employees reported that bundles of cardboard had been set on fire behind the business while the store was open. An employee detected the smell of smoke and located the fire, which firefighters quickly extinguished.
Later that day, at around noon, fire crews responded to a separate incident at a Shell station located at 7022 Shallowford Road. Officials said brush along the interstate was found burning after being intentionally ignited.
Authorities reported that Chattanooga Police had a suspect in custody at the second scene. Walgreens employees subsequently identified the individual as the same person seen near the earlier fire at the store.
Daniel Roden, 40, was arrested and charged with two counts of Reckless Burning and two counts of Reckless Endangerment. Officials said the charges stem from allegations that the fires placed members of the public at risk.
The incidents remain under investigation.