Houston fire investigators say a 43-year-old man turned boredom into a dangerous pastime along the city’s west side, quietly setting a string of small fires near busy shopping centers before finally getting caught in the act.
Investigators with the Houston Arson Bureau arrested Jody Curvey on Wednesday after they say they watched him set new blazes outside businesses in west Houston. According to court records, Curvey allegedly told them he started “20 to 30” fires because he was bored and wanted to stay warm. Several of those incidents reportedly targeted shopping centers and storefronts, putting nearby employees and customers at risk.
What Investigators Say
Court documents reviewed by ABC13 Houston state that Curvey used a lighter to set tree limbs on fire at the partially vacant West Oaks Mall. Investigators say he then moved the burning limbs onto a staircase, which blocked an emergency exit. When a security guard approached, Curvey allegedly tried to keep the flames going by fanning them with a sweater. Arson investigators say they detained him on the spot on Wednesday as he was in the middle of setting the fire.
Where It Happened
The fires were clustered along the Highway 6 and Westheimer corridor, close to West Oaks Mall and the Village at West Oaks shopping plaza, a busy strip of big-box stores and smaller retailers. Property listings place West Oaks Mall at 1000 West Oaks Mall, Houston, TX 77082, and show the surrounding center as a mix of occupied and vacant storefronts, according to LoopNet.
The nearby Academy Sports + Outdoors, listed at 2320 State Highway 6 on the company’s Academy Sports + Outdoors store locator, sits across from the mall. That kind of high-traffic, strip-center setting helps explain why arson investigators moved quickly once they spotted a pattern of fires in the same retail pocket.
Allegations And Bond
Prosecutors told ABC13 Houston that Curvey admitted to setting three separate fires at a Westheimer strip mall across from West Oaks Mall in December, January and February. One of those incidents, on January 20, allegedly involved cardboard boxes that were leaned against the Academy storefront and then set on fire.
Court records show Curvey’s bond has been set at $75,000. A judge ordered that if he posts bond, he must stay away from all combustibles, a condition that covers the very materials investigators say were used to start the fires. Authorities did not immediately say whether any workers or shoppers were hurt in the incidents.
Arson In Context
Intentional structure fires remain a steady public-safety concern nationwide. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that municipal fire departments responded to an annual average of roughly 52,260 intentionally set structure fires between 2014 and 2018, and reports that lighters and matches are common ignition sources. That broader backdrop helps explain why judges often impose tight bond conditions in arson cases and why property managers are urged to keep trash and other combustible materials away from storefronts and exits. The NFPA analysis lays out the national data.
What Comes Next
Houston Fire Department arson investigators and prosecutors are continuing to review court materials and evaluate potential charges connected to the series of fires. Officials have asked anyone with video or information about suspicious fires in the Highway 6 and Westheimer area to contact local authorities.
Merchants along the corridor say they plan to keep a closer eye on storefronts, loading zones and trash enclosures for the foreseeable future as the case moves forward.
