A Windward O'ahu man was arrested last night on suspicion of setting fire to a gasoline pump at a service station and a trash bin at the Kane'ohe post office.

The man is believed to be the first person arrested under the state's new arson law. A conviction for first-degree arson carries up to 15 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

The man, in his 40s, remained in a police cellblock last night pending charges.

No one was injured in either fire, but several people had to flee from the flames that shot up about 6 feet at the Shell gas station on Kamehameha Highway in Kane'ohe, said police Detective Gary Lahens. He said a woman was pumping gas when the fire broke out and narrowly escaped injury.

The first fire was reported at about 7:40 p.m. when witnesses said they saw a man set fire to a garbage can at the post office. The witnesses were able to extinguish the flames, Lahens said.

About 10 minutes later, a man doused gasoline on a pump and "all over the ground" at the gas station, Lahens said. The man then ignited the gasoline and fled.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before it could cause serious damage, Lahens said.

"When you have an individual dousing a great amount of gasoline near a pump, then it can be very dangerous," he said.

Police caught up with the man about a mile from the gas station and arrested him. Police said he also is a suspect in a fire last week at the same Shell station.

Lahens credited the public with helping police apprehend the man.

"It shows you that once the public gets involved with the police, we're able to suppress the greater danger," he said.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.