An Illinois young man was arrested Thursday night after allegedly starting a fire at his family's home following a heated Thanksgiving argument, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.

The suspect, Erik J. Crump, 21, faces charges of aggravated arson and residential arson residential, after authorities concluded he used an accelerant to start the fire in his bedroom.

Officers initially responded to the residence, located in the 40100 block of North Lone Oak Road in Beach Park, around 7:30 pm, due to a family dispute.

Relatives claimed Crump had been harassing others in the house, although police determined no crime had been committed. After mediation, the young man agreed to leave the residence for the remainder of the night.

The house filled with smoke, and the family had to evacuate.

Approximately an hour later, emergency services received a report of a fire at the same address.

Upon arrival, firefighters observed a man matching Crump's description, armed with a knife, on the side of the road. The suspect fled, and officers established a perimeter. A tracking dog followed his scent to a dead end, leading investigators to believe he may have escaped in a vehicle. Later, Crump was located at a storage facility in the 39400 block of North Lewis Avenue and arrested without incident. According to detectives, Crump had been informed he would be evicted from the house after the initial fight. Shortly afterward, he allegedly returned, doused his bedroom with an accelerant, and set it on fire before fleeing. The family, noticing smoke spreading rapidly, evacuated in time. The fire caused significant damage, but no injuries were reported. “It's a real blessing that no one was hurt,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg highlighted the quick response of the first responders. “It is a true blessing that no one was hurt or killed in this senseless act,” he said. He added that, while families across the county were celebrating Thanksgiving, officers and firefighters “responded within minutes,” secured the area, assisted in extinguishing the fire,and apprehended the suspect before he posed a greater risk. After reviewing the case, the Lake County State's Attorney's Office approved formal charges of aggravated arson and residential arson.