PALM BAY, Fla. (AP) - Authorities arrested a man they say was seen throwing a Molotov cocktail into the woods Wednesday in this Atlantic coast town, where several homes have been gutted by wildfires this week.
Authorities said Brian Crowder set a small blaze that was quickly extinguished. They planned to question the 31-year-old about larger wildfires that have found ample fuel in developments in the region, where the state has not held controlled burns to cut back vegetation.
ospital for minor injuries caused by a police dog when officers took him into custody, Berger said.

By Chris Dolmetsch May 14 (Bloomberg) - Florida authorities today arrested a 31-year-old man suspected of starting a small blaze in the oceanside city of Palm Bay, where fires have destroyed dozens of homes and forced hundreds to evacuate.
The suspect, identified as Brian Crowder, was arrested after a 90-minute foot chase that began when officers went to his home, Palm Bay Police Chief Bill Berger said in a televised news conference.
and a history of drug use, Berger said.

PALM BAY, Fla. (AP) - Authorities in Florida plan to question a man accused of lobbing a glass bottle filled with accelerant and sparking a small blaze today in a wildfire-ravaged town.
Palm Bay officials say about 20 homes have been gutted and 160 other structures damaged by fires that have charred thousands of acres. Officials earlier had reported about 40 homes destroyed. Forestry officials say the weather has improved, allowing firefighters to catch up with the flames.
lated shower, S 5-10 mph. 72/75 upstate

By JD Gallop, Florida Today PALM BAY, Fla. — Police detained a man Wednesday whom they are calling a "person of interest" in this week's suspected arson

By Diane Smith The dry and windy meteorological conditions fueled several wildfires across the central Atlantic coast of Florida on Monday.

Gov. Charlie Crist declares a state of emergency. Arson is suspected in as many as nine fires in Palm Bay.
From the Associated Press
. Highway 1 was closed in the area. All 18 schools in Palm Bay, including charter schools, will be closed Tuesday.