HARRISON TWP. — A 30-year-old Washington Township man was arrested Thursday, Oct. 16, and charged with breaking into and setting fire to a vacant house in the 600 block of Mullica Hill Road earlier that day.

Michael T. Keating, a furloughed employee of the Internal Revenue Service, was arrested at his home on Bridge Drive at about 9 p.m., authorities said.

Witnesses had reported seeing a man leaving the Route 322 house at about 6 p.m. and saw signs of fire in the ranch house, which was destroyed, said authorities.

One firefighter suffered a hand injury that required stitches. Harrison Township and Pitman firefighters fought the blaze.

Keating also allegedly stole a chair from the house.

A motorcycle at his home, believed to have been used in the course of the arson, was seized pending receipt of a search warrant that will allow investigators to inspect it, said authorities.

Keating was charged with aggravated arson, burglary and theft and was jailed in  default of $100,000 bail, authorities said.

The incident was investigated by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Harrison Township Police Department.  Assisting agencies were the Washington Township Police Department and the Gloucester County Fire Marshal’s Office.