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Lansford man faces arson charges

A Lansford man faces arson and related charges after allegedly setting fire to garbage inside a home as deputies attempted to serve a protection from abuse order Thursday afternoon.

Gavin Moser, 26, was arraigned by District Judge Joseph Homanko on charges of arson and risking catastrophe, both felonies, and seven counts of reckless endangerment, all misdemeanors.

He was jailed in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in Nesquehoning in lieu of $100,000.

According to arrest papers, Carbon sheriff deputies went to a home on the 700 block of East Ridge Street to serve a PFA filed by Moser’s mother, and found that Moser had barricaded himself in a second-floor bedroom.

Deputies attempted to make contact and have Moser come out of the room, but he refused, prompting deputies to kick the bedroom door in, court papers said.

They found Moser on the bed, and could smell the fresh odor of fire in the room, court papers said. Deputies then noticed the ceiling had multiple burn marks and a pile of garbage behind the door was charred — both were warm to the touch, court papers said.

Deputies believe Moser set fire to the garbage in the room to keep them from entering, court papers said.

Firefighters from Lansford were summoned to check the home to ensure there was no fire burning behind the walls or in the drop ceiling, court papers said. The home is a half-double, and shares a common wall with another property.

Lansford police came in contact with Moser later that afternoon in the East End Playground, and detained him.

Moser told police that he set fire to the garbage in his room, and that his clothes still smelled of fire, court papers said. Moser gave police his clothing as evidence.