Then why didn't he surrender peacefully?
Maybe if the police had tried to talk to him before setting everything on fire, they might have had a chance to send in a negotiator to speak with him via cellphone or bullhorn.
I guess we will never know, since the place was set on fire with him (and could have been potential hostages) still inside.
You are defending the indefensible if you think that the "scorched earth" policy is applicable here. It didn't have to end this way.