The McCracken County Sheriff's Office says on Saturday just after 6:00 pm, the Reidland Farley Fire Department was notified of a possible structure fire on Wilson Avenue. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke inside the home.
Upon inspecting the structure, firefighters found a fire under the trailer and extinguished it. Based upon their survey of the scene, the fire department suspected foul play and contacted the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department.
Once at the scene, deputies began their investigation and noted signs of the fire being intentionally set. Based upon physical evidence at the scene, deputies named 55-year-old Keith Lynn Fortner, of Wilson Avenue, as a possible suspect. Physical evidence was found on Fortner's property that linked him to the crime.
Fortner later admitted to deputies he intentionally set the fire to scare the victim, who was in the home at the time of the fire. The victim was not injured. Fortner was arrested without incident and lodged at the McCracken County Regional Jail on a charge of 1st degree arson.
