Sioux City Fire Rescue responded to a house fire at Ross and West Palmer about 4:15 am on September 19th.

As officers and firefighters arrived at the vacant home at 417 Ross Street Initial reports indicated fire and smoke were visible.

It took about an hour to get the fire under control and ultimately extinguished. A man on the scene, Jesse Saul Bigeagle who was yelling and causing a disturbance was arrested and charged with Public Intoxication and Possession of Marijuana.

A joint investigation with Sioux City Police and Sioux City Fire Rescue determined that Jesse Saul Bigeagle, 32 of Sioux City intentionally started the fire. He was arrested and charged with Arson 2nd and Criminal Mischief 1st and was booked into the Woodbury County Jail on $21,000 Bond.

Court documents say that Bigeagle was in the basement of his former residence about 3:30 am, he admitted to setting his shirt on fire, which was on a bookcase by dumping alcohol on it and lighting it on fire, he theft left the home. The fire spread to the basement ceiling causing extensive damage to the home which has been red-tagged and is considered a total-loss.