It is never a good idea to set a building on fire, but a courthouse?

In nearby Smithville, Tennessee, police charged 52 year old Gary Wayne Ponder with Aggravated Arson for Setting Fire to the Courthouse. While the arrest was made this week, the fire actually took place on June 14th.

The fire started in a newspaper recycling bin near the first floor entrance. Local attorney Jim Judkins was the first to spot the blaze. He tried to activate the fire alarm and accessed a fire extinguisher which he used to try to put out the blaze. Apparently, the fire alarm in the building did not work properly.

Source:

Partner Station WJLE