A Bismarck man credited with waking up his girlfriend and her children when he smelled smoke in her mobile home has been accused of starting the fire that destroyed the home.

Lawrence Eric Bailey, 27, was charged Friday with arson, a Class B felony, for allegedly starting the fire at 503 Haycreek Court early Sunday morning.

South Central District Judge Bruce Haskell set bond for Bailey at $10,000 cash.

Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Julie Lawyer said there are allegations that Bailey has been involved in other fires, and authorities are "looking at him as possibly a serial arsonist."

"Afterwards, his demeanor also indicated he was involved with the fire," Lawyer told Haskell.

Lawyer did not recommend prohibiting Bailey from contacting his girlfriend. Lawyer said Vickie Reule, Bailey's girlfriend, has been living at Bailey's father's home since the fire, and Bailey would return there if he is able to post bond. She said authorities do not want to risk putting Reule out of a second home.

The Bismarck police and fire departments were called to the mobile home in the park at 4005 N. 19th Street at 3:59 a.m. Sunday.

Reule, Bailey and Reule's children, Shelby Butler, 3, and Tyler Butler, 2, were outside the mobile home when police arrived, said Bismarck Police Lt. Dan Donlin.

Reule, 26, told the Tribune in a past interview that she called 911 on her cell phone after her boyfriend, Bailey, smelled smoke and yelled for everyone to get out of the home.

She said Bailey smelled smoke, got up to investigate the smell and discovered smoke and flames in the kitchen area.

A police report said Reule and her children were wearing pajamas when officers spoke to them after the fire, but Bailey was not wearing pajamas, Donlin said. He said he was unable to release details about Bailey's attire due to the ongoing investigation.

Bailey was treated by Metro Area Ambulance at the scene for smoke inhalation, Donlin said. He said Bailey did not live at the mobile home but stayed there on occasion.

Kermit Schaefer, assistant chief of operations for the Bismarck Fire Department, said the mobile home appears to be a total loss.

Reule also has two other children, Vanessa Bailey, 7, and Cole Reule, 6, who were at their grandparents' rural home the night of the fire.

Anyone wanting to help the family can send donations to the Vickie Reule Benefit Fund at Dakota Community Bank, 1727 State St., Bismarck, N.D. 58501. For more information, call the bank at 255-9000.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)