Tisbury man held after burning trash ignites house

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Tisbury police took a man into protective custody last Wednesday evening after they found him burning trash a few feet from his house. The flames spread to the one-story ranch at 1 Bumpy Road, off Briarwood Lane. Fire damaged the rear exterior and the attic of the house.

When police responded to a call reporting an open fire between two houses shortly before 6 pm, they found John Teagan, 47, burning leaves and scrap wood.

According to the police report, Mr. Teagan was escorted away from the flames because he repeatedly stepped into the fire and then scuffled with the responding officers. Police say he was intoxicated. They placed him in protective custody and took him to the Dukes County Jail for the night.

Fire Chief John Schilling said Mr. Teagan unintentionally spread the flames by kicking some of the burning material toward a wooden skiff propped against a shed.