A black man has been charged with illegal burning after he tried to cremate his dog but ended up setting his house on fire

Charles Harris's property suffered extensive damage from the fire, smoke, and the water to put the blaze out and is currently uninhabitable. Neighbors said that Harris's dog Thor, an 11-year-old Rottweiler, died recently. Harris said that several animal shelters in the area were closed when he called them after the dog died of unknown causes. He then contacted local animal hospitals to see if they could help him dispose of the body. He was told that the dog had to be brought to them. Harris said that he was unable to do that because his car is too small. Officials said that Harris piled wood around Thor's body and then poured on gasoline. But the flames shot up the back of the house to the roof. When firefighters arrived they found smoke billowing from the two-story, single-family home. At the back of the house, firefighters found flames extending from the ground to the attic. A day later animal control finally came and took the dog away. Prince William County fire and rescue Battalion Chief Joe Robertson said that the fire caused $70,000 in damage. It is against the law in Prince William County to burn without a permit.