Authorities say a late-night fire in the men's restroom at a Troutman truck stop ended with a Taylorsville man in handcuffs and facing a serious felony charge.
Deputies arrested 47-year-old Richard Allan Ferguson of Taylorsville after investigators determined a blaze inside the men's room at the Pilot Travel Center on Charlotte Highway had been intentionally set. Fire crews put out the flames before deputies arrived, and officials report no injuries. Ferguson is charged with felony burning of a commercial structure while it was occupied and is being held on a $150,000 bond while the investigation continues.
How investigators say they found him
Investigators turned to surveillance footage and other physical evidence to track down a suspect, according to WCNC. That review led them to identify Ferguson, and deputies obtained an arrest warrant before taking him into custody on Thursday without further incident, the station reports.
The Iredell County Sheriff's Office says its Criminal Investigations Division handled the case alongside the Iredell County Fire Marshal's Office, working together on evidence collection and on determining how and where the fire started.
Where the fire started
County investigators say the blaze began inside a stall in the men's restroom and was not an accident. That conclusion came out of a joint origin-and-cause investigation by sheriff's investigators and the fire marshal.
According to the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, those findings supported the charge of "felony burning of a commercial structure while occupied." Officials say the case remains active as follow-up work continues.
What the charge means under state law
Under North Carolina law, "Burning of Occupied Commercial Structure" is addressed in state statute. Unless another law calls for a tougher sentence, a person who "wantonly and willfully set fire to or burn or cause to be burned" an occupied commercial structure can be punished as a Class D felon.
The statute increases the severity of the offense when the structure is occupied at the time of the fire, which is the specific charge cited in this case. The full language is detailed in North Carolina General Statutes.
The scene and local context
The fire broke out at the Pilot Travel Center at 1006 Charlotte Highway in Troutman, a busy highway stop that serves truckers and travelers around the clock. Job postings and company materials for the site, available through Pilot Company, highlight the complex as a full-service travel center with food options, fueling stations, and amenities that keep the parking lot and restrooms in constant use.
The Troutman Pilot has seen high-profile emergencies before. In 2023, a hydrogen tanker fire at the same location triggered a half-mile evacuation and snarled traffic, a reminder of how quickly incidents at highway travel centers can ripple out to nearby businesses and drivers.
What comes next
Ferguson remains in custody while the Iredell County Sheriff's Office continues its investigation. Deputies say the next steps in the case will move through the county's prosecutors.
Anyone with information about the restroom fire is asked to contact the Iredell County Sheriff's Office. The Iredell County Sheriff's Office and the county Fire Marshal's Office remain the lead agencies on the probe.
