NATCHEZ — Donald Tibbitts told Adams County Sheriff’s Deputies when he attempted to exit his trailer because the oven was on fire he was unable to open the door.

Tibbitts later discovered that he was unable to open the door because it had been padlocked shut from the outside.

Adams County Chief deputy Charles Sims said Tibbitts told deputies he believed his wife, Janice Bissoat Tibbitts, intentionally set the fire.

Sims said that several towels had been placed on the heating element in the couple’s electric oven and one had also been place on the burner on the stovetop.

Tibbitts said he was sleeping when he began to have trouble breathing from the smoke, when he awoke he discovered the fire.

After Tibbitts was unable to exit from the front door he used a window to escape and called the fire department.

Sims said that Tibbitts originally planned to press charges against his wife but as of Friday evening none had been filed.

Sims said unless Tibbitts chooses to press charges the sheriff’s office will not pursue the matter.

Damage form the fire was contained to only the stove.