Cops: Bethlehem man ignites fire using lighter to ‘clean’ items

A Bethlehem man who said he had a compulsive need to clean items with a cigarette lighter told police he ignited a fire in his South Sideapartment, sending residents fleeing to escape the flames.

Joseph Matacavage, 53, of the 100 block of East Third Street, is charged with arson that risks death or serious injury, arsonofan occupied structure, reckless burning, causing a catastrophe, reckless endangerment and criminal mis chief. He was arraigned before District Judge Roy Manwaring and sent to Northampton County Jail under $100,000 bail. According to court records: Police and fire crews were called at 3:20 p.m. Saturday to an apartment in the 100 block of East Third Street for reports of a fire. Bethlehem police, among the first on scene, found Matacavage standing in the common area of the main entrance to the building.

“Whatstarted the fire?” an officer asked Matacavage.

“Me,” Matacavage said.

Bethlehem police were told then that there could be three people still trapped in a third-floor apartment. An officer went to the rear of the building and climbed to the third floor. Through heavy smoke, he was able to find and escort a woman and her three children, ages 7,6, and 3, to safety.

Bethlehem Fire Marshal Craig Baer determined the fire started in the living room of Mat ac av age’ s second-floor apartment. The fire moved to the bathroom and then spread to there st of the apartment and into the third-floor unit.

Matacavage was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital for burn injuries, and was interviewed by police.

He explained that he suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder and needed to clean items in his home. Sometimes, he said, he felt compelled to use a cigarette lighter to “clean” items. He said he’s been using fire to clean items for about 10 years and had a close call in 2016 when a fire nearly got out of control but he was able to extinguish it, though he suffered burns in the process.

Matacavage was using a lighter on a six-pack of water bottles wrapped in plastic when the heat caused the plastic to ignite and begin to melt to the floor. The melted plastic fell onto discarded papers and caught fire.

As the flames grew, Mat ac av age said stomped on the flames with his bare feet. When that didn’t work, he tried to carry some of the burningdebris to thebathroomto place in the toilet and tub, but this only caused more paper and plastic to catch fire as it was carried across the floor.

He said he continued to try to extinguish the fire for about 10 minutes before calling for help. Finally, he said, he called 911 and shouted “Fire!” three times into the hallway of the apartment building. He wasn’t sure whether anyone heard him.

Mat ac av age told police he knew the behavior was dangerous but said he “could not help himself.”