Toms River man charged with arson for second time

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (WPVI) -- A man who has been previously charged with arson was arrested again after police say he set another house on fire.

Police say 26-year-old John Fischer of Toms River set fire to the home on the 100 block of Camino Roble Drive just after midnight Tuesday.

Officers were called after a man who lives there noticed smoke near his home and flames shooting from under his front door.

The man used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames.

Police say he went outside and realized that the vinyl siding to the rear of his home was also on fire. He was also able to extinguish those flames.

Once at the scene, police observed the smell of an accelerant, possibly gasoline.

As a result of the investigation, Fischer was charged with Aggravated Arson.

He is being held in the Ocean County Jail on $75,000 bail.

Along with Aggravated Arson, Fischer had previously been convicted of Burglary and Theft, police say.