A Joliet man allegedly tried to burn down “his half” of a house, where his ex-wife was living, with a can of gasoline, police said.

About 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Will County Sheriff’s deputies went to a residence in the 1300 block of Edmonds Avenue in New Lenox Township after receiving a report of a possible garage fire and a disturbance, Will County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said in an email.

When they arrived, they saw New Lenox firefighters already were on the scene and had extinguished a small fire on the floor of the garage, Hoffmeyer said. Fire personnel said there was evidence the fire was started with gasoline.

Deputies spoke with two women – the ex-wife of Nathan Longnecker, 39, of the 300 block of Oakview Avenue in Joliet, as well as with a female family friend who was visiting at the time of the incident.

Both women alleged that Longnecker showed up at the residence to collect some of his belongings when he got into an argument with his ex-wife.

“During the argument, Nathan stated that he was going to burn down his half of the house,” Hoffmeyer said.

He allegedly then picked up a can of gasoline, poured gasoline on the garage floor and used a lighter to set it on fire.

Deputies spoke with Longnecker, who allegedly made statements implicating himself in the incident, Hoffmeyer said.

He was arrested and charged with reckless conduct.