Man accused of setting multiple fires throughout Florida Preservation area

MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A man was arrested after setting several fires in the Silver Springs Preservation Area just outside of Ocala on Tuesday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.

Around 2:30 a.m., deputies and fire rescue responded to a report of several fires being started near the 2000 block of Northeast Baseline Road.

Jason Satterly, 47, was seen by aviation units actively lighting additional fires, and then fleeing southbound through the woods. Two people were camping nearby but were not injured.

Deputies were able to track Satterly in the woods and detained him.

While in custody, he admitted to having an active out-of-state warrant. Officials later discovered he was an absconded sexual offender out of Kentucky.

Deputies said Satterly set a total of eight fires, with two of them growing to at least 30 yards in diameter. He claimed to set fires because people were chasing him.

Satterly was arrested for malicious burning of land and culpable negligence and exposure to harm. He was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was also charged for failing to register as a sexual offender in the county.

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