A jury found a Napa County man guilty of burning down his own house near the Lake Berryessa area.

On Wednesday, the jury came back with guilty verdicts of arson, filing a fraudulent insurance claim and destruction of insured property against Jasen Meyn, 25. He faces a maximum state prison term of 12 years.

The arson happened on July 28, 2006, at Meyn’s home at 116 Ridgecrest Drive in Circle Oaks, off Highway 121.

CalFire Battalion Chief Eric Hoffman investigated the arson.

He said the day of the fire, a CalFire engine was on Highway 121, near Circle Oaks.

“They were on scene before the fire was even completely dispatched. When they arrived, the house was completely engulfed. When so much fire spreads that quickly, it makes the cause suspicious,” Hoffman said.

Many agencies helped Cal- Fire in the investigation.

“We brought in a dog from ATF (Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.) The dog was able to identify a location where the fire started. We sent samples to the lab and they came back positive for gasoline,” he said.

Hoffman said findings in the investigation showed Meyn had used a propane system to create a leak in the house. “He left the gas leaking in the house and vacated the residence. The gas ignited after coming into contact with a pilot light.”

Meanwhile, Meyn had moved to Newport Beach in Southern California.

Hoffman said a search warrant was served at that house, where detectives found several items Meyn reported as being lost in the fire. That’s when he was arrested, he said.

Although Meyn never admitted his guilt, Hoffman said evidence showed his wife left him with a house that needed significant repairs.

“It was sliding down the hill. He owed more on the house than it was worth,” he said. “That could have been a possible motive.”

CalFire Fire Marshal Gabrielle Avina said Meyn’s criminal actions put many people at risk.

“Everyone who responded to that fire was at risk of being injured. That includes his neighbors as well. A structure fire in July can so easily turn into a wildland fire, especially in an area such as Circle Oaks, where there are a lot of fire fuels,” Avina said. “We were very lucky to be able to put out such an intense fire without it spreading to the wildland or his neighbors’ homes.”

Napa County Deputy District Attorney Bryan Tong prosecuted the arson case.

Meyn testified at his trial, but stuck to his story that he didn’t know how the fire started.

“His conduct affected the whole community. It was so fortunate the fire didn’t get out of control,” Tong said.

Meyn is set to be sentenced Dec. 18.