Five people were displaced after the fire allegedly caused by 53-year-old Vince Hildestad, who went missing for a week afterwards.

He allegedly told police that he wanted to give his cat a “proper cremation” and was high on cannabis at the time, Channel 3000 reports.

Hildestad also said he had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

He will appear in court in Madison, Wisconsin to face a charge of arson on 15 October.