A Salina man was arrested early Friday morning outside his burning home.

Firefighters were called to the report of a house on fire at 1904 S. Valley View Drive at around 7:00 in the morning. The east side of the home was fully engulfed when the first crews arrived

Crews spent several hours trying to get the fire totally out. It was a difficult fire to fight. It got into the attic area of the house, eventually spreading throughout it, and a nearby waterline break prompted low water pressure in a fire hydrant being used.

There were no injuries. The homeowner, identified as Michael Sampson, discovered the fire, called for help, and safely exited. Police say that he was using a garden hose to try and put the fire out when first responders arrived.

Allegedly, Sampson later became angry while inside an ambulance, and pounded on the windows. He exited it, and ran towards the burning house in an attempt to enter it. He struggled with police, and was taken into custody on charges of failure to comply with law enforcement officers, criminal damage to property, and theft. The theft charge is unrelated, stemming from a book that Sampson allegedly stole from the Salina Public Library. He is accused of stealing a Salina South Middle School year book.

The home, valued at $435,000 by the county appraiser’s office, was extensively damaged by the fire.