A Lancaster city man charged with setting fire to a vehicle and other property will have his case proceed to county court after waiving his preliminary hearing earlier this week.

Ryan James Stewart, 39, waived his preliminary hearing before Judge Adam Witkonis on July 14 on charges of arson, reckless burning or exploding, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Stewart is accused of lighting the vehicle on fire outside his residence in the 400 block of Fairview Avenue the afternoon of July 3.

In addition to the vehicle, two picnic tables Stewart had used to start the fire were also damaged.

Police arrived to find the vehicle’s front windshield smashed and a gas can on the ground nearby.  Officers found Stewart at the residence drinking and threatening to “light the whole … world on fire.”

Two juvenile witnesses inside the residence told police Stewart had used drugs about an hour before the incident and that they ran away in fear to a neighbor’s house when he began to lose control.

Speaking to police while in custody, Stewart admitted he was surprised the gasoline on the vehicle did not catch fire quicker.

Stewart remains in Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Benjamin Detwiler filed the charges.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.