A former Shenandoah man faces charges in connection with arson cases in two different counties.

State police at Frackville and Shenandoah borough police will charge John Robert Curley, 53, formerly of 132 S. Market St., Shenandoah, with arson and related counts for allegedly setting a fire that damaged property at 132-134 S. Market St., Shenandoah, on July 7.Curley was later charged by Lansford Police in connection with a vehicle fire on July 8.It began at 11:19 p.m. July 7, when Shenandoah Police were dispatched to a garage fire at 132-134 S. Market St. When officers arrived, the fronts of both buildings were engulfed in flames. At the time of the fire, two people were inside an apartment. One of the people discovered the fire and attempted to put it out with a fire extinguisher, but was unsuccessful. Authorities said the fire forced the two people to flee their apartment through another apartment that leads to South Main Street.An investigation by State Police Fire Marshal trooper Joseph Hall determined the fire had deliberately been set in a pile of trash and furniture located outside of the garage door.A witness saw a man leaving the scene in a blue Jeep Liberty. The driver of the Jeep was also observed loosening the lug nuts on a vehicle owned by one of the people forced to flee the fire.As that investigation was continuing, troopers learned of a vehicle fire in Lansford. That vehicle was a blue Jeep Liberty registered to Curley.On July 9, state police found Curley sleeping alongside Route 209 in the area of Tuscarora. He admitted setting his vehicle on fire in Lansford and was transported to the Lansford Police Station.While being questioned about the vehicle fire, Curley told Lansford Police he was sure Shenandoah and state police wanted to speak to him about the arson fire at his home. He admitted setting that fire because he was "mad at his neighbors and had been evicted."Lansford Police charged him with felony counts of arson and risking a catastrophe. He was lodged in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in Nesquehoning, unable to post bail, which was set at $150,000.In Schuylkill County, Curley is charged with two felony counts of arson-endangering people and arson, one felony count each of arson-aggravated assault and causing or risking a catastrophe; and two misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person.He is scheduled to be arraigned before District Judge Anthony Kilker of Shenandoah, by video conference from the Carbon prison on Friday.