Police say, as it turns out, the man arrested, 27-year-old Chris Cimini of South Philadelphia, was the one yelling for help when firefighters arrived.
"Chris Cimini ended up at that location after a heavy night of drinking," said Capt. John Gallagher of the Philadelphia Police.
The fire happened around 6:00 a.m. Sunday . Philadelphia International Records studio was closed, the lights shut off. Police say surveillance video shows Cimini breaking in, stumbling around inside, acting like he was at home.
"What he does is take his lighter, he uses that as a guide to walk around through the building," said Capt. Gallagher. "On the third floor he ends up lighting up some combustibles inside a closet."
Authorities went on to say the video shows Cimini fooling around with a fire extinguisher, expelling its contents. That rendered it useless when the fire started.
"We're amazed he didn't have more injuries. We're amazed he didn't get caught up in the fire," said Capt. Gallagher. "We're also amazed he didn't fall asleep inside the building. That's how drunk he was."
Cimini does not appear to have a relationship with the studio, and has no relationship with songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who helped make the studio famous.
Cimini faces charges of arson, burglary and risking a catastrophe.
Officials say the two alarm fire melted gold and platinum records and destroyed memorabilia but spared the studio. The company's 10,000 master recordings are stored at an underground vault.
The company produced many R&B classics of the 1960s and 1970s. Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle and Teddy Pendergrass are among musical luminaries who have recorded there.
Producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff said in a statement that some lost items are "irreplaceable" but vowed to rebuild.
