Columbus man arrested on arson charge

October 2, 2020 John Clark

Justin A. Jump. Photo courtesy Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

A local man is facing arson charges after allegedly starting a fire at ground level hatches for fuel storage tanks.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested 34-year-old Justin A. Jump of Columbus on the arson charge after being called to the 11000 block of North U.S. 31 on a reported fire at the fuel storage tanks at just before 4 a.m. this morning. Fire units put out the blaze and deputies arrested Jump.

Chief Deputy Major Chris Lane says it could easily have turned into a very dangerous situation if it weren’t for the quick response of those firefighters from German Township Fire Department, Clifford Volunteer Fire Department and Edinburgh Fire Department.