Larkin Fire Rescue and Department deputy chief Mohd Suhaimi Abdul Jamal said five fire engines from two stations, with 28 firemen, rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 12.10am and managed to bring the blaze under control.

However, the officers had to rush back after they were informed that the man had returned to burn the house again at Jalan Maju 3, Taman Pelangi here early this morning.

“We managed to arrest the individual and handed him over to the Taman Pelangi police station,” said Suhaimi.

“The fire is believed to have started in the living room of the house and, based on information from neighbours, the man in his 60s, is alleged to have set fire to his rented house before fleeing.

“When firemen arrived at the scene, we found two single-storey houses on fire. The house where the fire started was about 80% destroyed while 10% of the adjacent house was damaged,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

No casualties were reported.

According to a neighbour, the suspect, whose wife and children are in Singapore, was believed to be suffering from depression and was asked to vacate the house by today.

Meanwhile, Johor Bahru Selatan district police chief Mohd Padzli Mohd Zain, when contacted, confirmed the incident and said that police are carrying out further investigations.