Lansdale Man Charged with Arson for March Car Fire

A Lansdale man is facing six felonies and four misdemeanors for allegedly setting a Ford Focus on fire behind Lansdale Food Mart in the early morning hours of March 28.

Jordan Fiscus, 25, of the unit block of East Third Street, has been arrested and charged on Tuesday by Lansdale Police for the 3 a.m. vehicle arson behind U.S. Gas and Food Mart at 291 N. Broad St. 

Fiscus faces the following charges at an April 26 preliminary hearing in Lansdale District Court:

• Felony arson with danger of death or bodily injury
• Felony arson - endangering property and reckless endangerment of inhabited buildings
• Felony arson - reckless burning or exploding of automobile
• Felony possessing an explosive material
• Felony risking catastrophe
• Felony criminal mischief
• Misdemeanor failure to control a fire
• Two counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment
• Misdemeanor possessing an instrument of crime

On March 28 at 3:12 a.m., Lansdale Police, along with members of Fairmount Fire Co. in Lansdale, responded to a car fire behind the Lansdale Food Mart, police said.

A 2011 Ford Focus was fully engulfed in flames, police said. The car is owned by a 23-year-old woman from West Chester.

The investigation began with reviewing surveillance video, which showed an individual, who police allege is Fiscus, loitering around the car at 2:32 a.m., police said.

A short time later, Fiscus is seen on camera allegedly entering the car. For the next 20 minutes, he tampers with the car and is seen allegedly carrying an unknown container toward the car, police said, which was later determined to be lighter fluid.

At 3:11 a.m., an explosion took place inside the vehicle, police said. 

Two Samaritans, who saw the fire prior to emergency crews arriving on scene, began checking the vehicle for anyone still inside. Then, a second explosion occurred in the car, police said.

The car was parked in the lot of the U.S. Gas station, about 20 feet from the residence, police said.

At the time of his arrest, Fiscus was already incarcerated at Montgomery County prison on a probation detainer for unrelated offenses, police said.

Bail was set by Borek at $75,000, which Fiscus failed to post, police said.

Fiscus pleaded guilty in Montgomery County court in December 2009 to terroristic threats, endangering the welfare of children and simple assault from an August 2009 arrest in Abington Township, according to court records. He was sentenced to five years’ probation, three years’ probation and a maximum of 23 months in prison, respectively, according to court records. Fiscus received 113 days credit for time served.

In June 2009, Fiscus pleaded guilty to use and possession of drug paraphernalia in Montgomery County court, and was sentenced to one year probation, according to court records. 

Fiscus was also sued by Second Alarmer's Association and Rescue of Willow Grove in 2009, and a civil judgement was made in favor of Second Alarmer's for $2,123, according to court records.