A Durham firefighter is accused of setting his home on fire with his wife, mother-in-law and 7-year-old child inside.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, 40-year-old Billy Wayne Smith set his Walker Farm Road home on fire while his family was inside Saturday night. Smith is a firefighter for the Durham Fire Department, the department said.
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Smith’s arrest warrant stated that he tried to burn the house down by putting plastic items on the stove, igniting the stove burners and then leaving the home.
Smith was also charged with assault and domestic violence after he allegedly struck his wife and left serious injuries across her face, including a “large golf ball size knot” above her left eye.
He allegedly committed these assaults in front of their 7-year-old child, resulting in another charge of assault inflicting serious injury with a minor present.
In all, Smith was charged with a felony count each of first-degree arson and attempted first-degree arson, along with a misdemeanor count each of assault with a minor present, assault on a female and a crime of domestic violence.
On Monday, Smith's wife pleaded with an Orange County judge to release her husband. She explained that she needed his help tend to their farm.
Smith's wife said, “He’s not a dangerous man when he’s sober. He was emotional when I got home from work and it just, it spiraled beyond what I could handle.
“This is challenging enough for our family as is," she said.
Ultimately, Judge Todd Roper felt Smith was too much of a public safety threat when going over the details of Sunday's incident. He ordered him held on $200,000 bond and to be evaluated for substance abuse and mental health.
"I have extreme concerns about his mental health and well-being. It’s a situation where I’m not comfortable in allowing him to return to the home when he is in a state that’s questionable at this stage," the judge said.
Should Smith make bond, he must still have no contact with the victims (his wife and child) and stay at least 300 feet away from them, the court ordered.
WRAL News received a statement on Monday from Durham Deputy Fire Chief Chris Iannuzzi.
"We are aware of the arrest and serious charges involving Durham Firefighter Billy Wayne Smith," Iannuzzi wrote. "The department is taking these allegations seriously and is reviewing the matter in accordance with city policies and procedures."
WRAL News has asked the Durham Fire Department how long Smith has worked for the department and if he's on any type of leave during the department's review.
The city of Mebane confirmed to WRAL News that Smith was a part-time firefighter there from 2012 to 2017. It is unknown why Smith left that department.