Mokena Man Accused of Setting Abandoned Orland Park Home on Fire

A Mokena man was recently charged with arson after authorities said he set fire to an abandoned house in west Orland Park, causing it to collapse.

Keith Ukso, 22, of the 19300 block of 116th Avenue in Mokena, was charged with one count of arson, according to a release from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

On April 13, the was called out to a fire at the abandoned building in the 11200 block of 159th Street, near Wolf Road, around 11 a.m. Firefighters were ordered to , according to Orland Fire Acting Chief Raymond Kay.  

"This house was not tenable and it's been that way for a long time,” Kay said. “Empty houses are often not watched or taken care of.”

Witnesses said Ukso was seen fleeing the area, according to the release. Ukso later admitted he lit a piece of cardboard inside the building to start a fire, and fled when the flames engulfed the building, police said. The fire is not considered to be an accident, police said.

No one was injured during the fire, though the house’s roof collapsed while the fire was put out.

Ukso has no past encounters with the Cook County Sheriff’s Police, and the only recent case on record was a driving with a suspended license charge in Mokena.

His bail was set at $50,000, and his next court date is scheduled for May 8.  

Return to Orland Park Patch later as we update this case while it develops.

Want the news delivered? Sign up for our daily email newsletter.

Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take.