POULSBO — An employee of Big Valley Veterinary Services told police to arrest him for setting fire to the building Tuesday night.

According to Scott Wilson, spokesman for Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, the 52-year-old East Bremerton resident worked at the clinic and after setting fire to the building with a can of gasoline told 911 dispatching units he started the fire and wanted to be arrested and put in jail.

According to a Poulsbo Fire Department press release, at about 7 p.m. Tuesday, fire fighters responded to a call and found flames and heavy smoke coming from the building on Big Valley Road.

The building is home to a veterinary clinic and office, as well as a second story apartment. A 49-year-old female resident of the apartment was home at the time of the fire.

“I heard footsteps coming up the stairs to my apartment,” she recounted. “Then I’m told to get out of the building, it’s on fire!”

The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed that the fire was arson and the suspect has been arrested. No one was injured in the fire, but the clinic’s owner lost his cat due to smoke inhalation. The fire destroyed the office space, but firefighters were able to save the rest of the building. The clinic and second story apartment received smoke damage and according to the Kitsap County Fire Marshal, there is more than $200,000 in damages.

The Poulsbo Fire Department, Navy Region Northwest, and North Kitsap Fire and Rescue responded to the blaze shortly after 7 p.m. on Big Valley Road Tuesday night.

The employee will make an appearance in Kitsap County Superior Court at 3 p.m. Wednesday to face arson charges. Bail is set at $250,000 and he is cooperating with investigators, according to Kitsap County Sheriff’s department.