CABINS, W.Va. — The co-owner of Smoke Hole Caverns and Resort said Thursday she does not know the Cabins man who has been charged with last week’s arson that destroyed the resort’s gift shop and snack bar and has no idea why he would have committed the crime.

Brent Michael Combs, 24, remained at the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail in Augusta on five charges in connection with the arson that fire investigators said caused a loss estimated at $1 million. His bond was set at $285,000 by Hardy County Magistrate Willard Earle.

Combs was arrested Tuesday evening following a round-the-clock investigation by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The arrest on charges of first- and second-degree arson and three counts of injury caused by arson was made with the assistance of information provided by citizens.

Two firefighters and a deputy suffered minor injuries in the fires that occurred at the gift shop and snack bar. The first fire occurred during the evening hours of Nov. 10, and a second fire occurred at about 4 a.m. Nov. 11 just hours after firefighters had extinguished the first blaze. The joint investigation quickly determined the fires had been deliberately set.

Combs reportedly was questioned by investigators late last week and a second time Tuesday evening when he was placed under arrest. He was read his rights and asked for an attorney at that time.

Court documents indicated wooden matchsticks and dog hair found at the scene of the fire matched wooden matchsticks and dog hair found during execution of a search warrant at Combs’ residence.

Smoke Hole Caverns co-owner Janet Hedrick said she was relieved to learn of the arrest Tuesday night.

“We’re happy there has been an arrest. Maybe now I can sleep at night. The deputy (Steven Wratchford) did an excellent job and wrapped up the investigation in a week. Some people thought he wouldn’t be able to solve it. He did a wonderful job and kept right after it.

“We do not know the suspect. None of my employees know him and we have no idea why he would do such a thing. He only lived a half-mile from the resort,” said Hedrick.

Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.