Man arrested on arson charges in downtown Morgan City fire

State Fire Marshal deputies have arrested a Morgan City man and accused him of setting fire to the unit he was renting above several commercial businesses inside a historic building, the agency said in a news release.
Wilburn McCullom, 72, was booked into the Morgan City Jail on one count of aggravated arson. He also is being held as a fugitive on outstanding warrants from another agency.
In the early evening hours of Tuesday, State Fire marshal deputies were requested by the Morgan City Fire Department to assist with determining the origin and cause of a fire in the 100 block of Railroad Avenue.
Following an assessment of the scene, deputies determined the fire was set intentionally inside a second-story room that was being rented as a studio apartment above one of the businesses operating inside the historic building.
Deputies learned McCullom was the room’s tenant but recently had received an eviction notice effective at the end of this week.
Deputies also learned just prior to the fire, the landlord and McCullom had been in an argument. Minutes later, smoke was discovered coming from the rental space as McCullom was seen walking away from the building.
Morgan City Police took McCullom into custody on the outstanding warrants, while State Fire Marshal deputies obtained a warrant for his arrest in connection with this case.