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Top News — Crime — Public Safety — Northern Henrico — Lakeside — Splash In Car Wash — Parham Road — Henrico Division of Fire — Ryan Housman — Justin Finan

Gloucester man charged with setting Henrico car wash on fire

,   and  Citizen Staff Reports
2 min read
A fire Dec. 16, 2024 at the Splash In Car Wash at 800 East Parham Road did significant damage. (Courtesy Henrico Police)

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A Gloucester County man has been charged with arson after allegedly setting fire to a car wash in Northern Henrico County Monday.

The Henrico Fire Marshal’s Office determined that the fire, which heavily damaged the Splash In Car Wash at 800 East Parham Road, was intentionally set and charged 32-year-old Ryan Housman with one count of felony arson.

When firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after 10 a.m., they observed smoke billowing from the building and flames emerging from the roof. The fire was under control by 10:53 a.m., according to officials.

Security video shows a man, alleged to be Ryan Housman of Gloucester, lighting a fire in the Splash In Car Wash at 800 East Parham Road Dec. 16, 2024. (Courtesy Henrico Police)

"Footage shows an individual entering the bay of the car wash at approximately 8:50 a.m. on Monday," said Henrico Deputy Fire Marshal Justin Finan. "The individual – who we identified as Mr. Housman – is seen in the bay of the car wash using a lighter to set fire to large brushes."

Housman spent approximately an hour in the car wash lighting small fires and extinguishing them until one fire escalated out of control, Finan said.

"The last fire grew too large to be swatted out by hand and ultimately engulfed the car wash, eventually burning through the roof," Finan said. "Credit to the Splash In and neighboring businesses for providing video to Henrico Fire so quickly after the fire."

Following the fire, Housman was detained by Walmart staff for suspected shoplifting after entering the Walmart located a few hundred yards from the car wash. Henrico Police arrested Housman for larceny and possession of illegal drugs, among other charges.

"The loss prevention officers and Henrico Police did great work," Finan said. "Their investigation, while unrelated to the fire, revealed that Mr. Housman had several lighters in his backpack and burns on his sweatshirt, undershirt, and gloves. Those factors, combined with video evidence, helped the Fire Marshal’s Office conclude its investigation and bring charges against Mr. Housman."

Housman was already facing multiple charges from Henrico Police and was being held in a Henrico jail without bond when fire marshals served him with the arson charge.