Canadian Jason Murray, 21, had met the girl, who is under 18, on the Internet, said Ogden Fire Department Deputy Chief Chad Tucker.

She ran away to Canada with the man in June, but left him in August and returned to the United States.

But the man pursued her, Tucker said, and tracked her to her grandparents' house on the 1000 East block of 3700 South in Ogden. He had been stalking the girl and threatening her family. She was not there when he set a fire near the carport at about 12:20 a.m. Tuesday, Tucker said.

The fire spread, engulfing most of the house, but neighbors woke up the girl's grandparents and they escaped. When firefighters arrived, they resuscitated one of their cats at the scene, but a second cat died in the flames. Damage to the home was estimated at $50,000 to $70,000.

Police tracked down the man through the hotel where he stayed, the taxi cab he used and the bus he took back the Pendleton, Ore. area. They arrested Tuesday afternoon.