One arrested for arson after fire causes ‘moderate’ damage to Onset home

One person has been arrested for arson, breaking and entering and four counts of attempted murder after he allegedly set fire to a home located at 29 Onset Ave. on Monday evening.

The Oct. 25 fire caused moderate damage to the home and no civilian injuries. 

A spokesperson for the State Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed that a joint investigation conducted by the Onset Fire Department, Wareham Police, the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit and the State Fire Marshal’s Office “determined that the fire was intentionally set.”

Michael C. Muise, 26, was arraigned Tuesday, Oct. 26, and is being held without bail pending the outcome of a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Friday, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.

Onset Fire responded to the structure fire at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday. According to a statement from the department, Onset Fire Chief Jeffrey Osswald arrived on the scene first and noted visible smoke from the home. 

Department crews “confined the fire to the room of origin” and then continued to work for “several hours” to both extinguish the fire and assist the State Fire Marshal’s Office with an investigation into the fire’s cause.

In total, approximately 20 firefighters worked on the scene, the department said. Wareham EMS evaluated two for injuries; both were “treated on scene and did not require transport.”

“The damage to the building was moderate, resulting in a loss of property,” the statement said. “There were no civilian injuries, and all animals were found in the care of their owners.”

This story has been updated to include information from the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.