LADERA RANCH – A man who barricaded himself in a Ladera Ranch home for about three hours and is suspected of starting a fire there surrendered late Wednesday afternoon.

The incident began around 1:25 p.m., when police received a call that a man in a residence on Linden Wood Farm, a small street in Ladera Ranch, was threatening to commit suicide, said Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Mark Stichter.

The man, who was not identified, also apparently started a fire in the home, which belonged to a relative, Stichter said. The man barricaded himself inside the house, he added. No one else was inside.

When deputies arrived, the man began breaking the home’s windows and throwing out items, Stichter said. A portion of home’s second story caught fire, he added.

The man threw out books, paper and clothes through the master bedroom glass door onto the balcony, smashing the glass, said witness Ginger Wightman.

“He then lit a fire on the balcony, a small fire that turned into big flames within seconds,” she said. “That’s when I knew something was really wrong. Thank God he surrendered; I feel sorry for the guy.

“When he came out with his hands over his head, I said a prayer for him that he can get the help he needs.”

The man and his wife are going through a divorce, neighbors said.

Orange County Fire Authority personnel fought the fire from outside because of the possibility that the man was armed, said Capt. Larry Kurtz.

SWAT team members responded and a Sheriff’s Department negotiator persuaded the man to surrender peacefully around 4:15 p.m. He was transported to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo for cuts to his arm and chest, possibly self-inflicted, Kurtz said.

After the man surrendered, OCFA fighterfighters entered and extinguished small pockets of fire inside the house. Thirty firefighters responded. The fire caused moderate damage to two rooms and a balcony.

A building inspector will determine if the house can be repaired and when residents can return, Kurtz said.

The incident is under investigation and there may be charges filed, Stichter said.

Marie Ekberg Padilla contributed to this report.

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