Arsonist Destroys Willow Grove Business After Getting Rejected For Job: DA

WILLOW GROVE, PA — A Montgomery County man has been charged with arson after police said he lit a home and a business on fire in the area in late December, the District Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

Sean Gahagan, 56, of Lebanon, faces numerous charges in the incident.

It began on Dec. 29 at around 8:45 p.m. at a home on Huntingdon Pike.

Gahagan used a can of fire-starting fluid and a can of a flammable automotive engine product called Gum Cutter to start the blaze in a shed at the rear of the property, police said.

Surveillance video captured Gahagan's vehicle near the property. It's unclear why he targeted the home, but about 15 minutes later he went to JG Transmissions, where he'd been rejected while seeking work that morning, according to authorities.

Gahagan was seen on surveillance video parking on the 600 block of Davisville Road, before sprinting inside the business and back out about six minutes before the fire was reported to 911, police said.

While police were able to put the shed fire out with a fire extinguisher, JG Transmissions was completely destroyed in the blaze.

Authorities issued a warrant for Gahagan's arrest and he was captured days later inside a church in Lebanon. He was wearing the same camouflage jacket when he was arrested as he was when the fire was set.

In addition to arson he was charged with risking catastrophe, theft, criminal mischief, and other counts. He was booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A bail review hearing is set for Jan. 26 and a preliminary hearing will be held Jan. 29.