Two people have been arrested after a Del City home went up in flames last month.Authorities called it an insurance scheme. More than a month later and the roof is still charred, along with all the furniture.Authorities said it was no accident.”The cameras showed some pretty conclusive evidence that placed her at the scene of the time of the fire, as well as another person,” said Brandon Pursell, Del City fire chief.On Dec. 2, just before 2 a.m., a Del City home on Doris Avenue went up in flames. Firefighters had to evacuate nearby neighbors due to the large fire and heavy smoke.It was a massive fire that investigators said was set on purpose.”Just throughout the course of the investigation, the story changed a couple of times,” Pursell said.Investigators said nearby surveillance video showed the woman living at the house along with another man drove up 20 minutes before the fire was spotted. Authorities said the man went inside for four minutes before they drove away.Not even two minutes later, investigators said the front window shattered as flames took over.”Knowing that it was a deliberate act, not only places our firefighters in danger, but it places neighboring houses in danger,” Pursell said.Authorities said the woman tried to cover her tracks, removing precious heirlooms ahead of the crime.”One of the things that she had requested that next day as our crews were still there and making sure everything was extinguished, was that she had some personal heirlooms, the ashes of her deceased husband there that we were digging through piles of debris trying to find these ashes for her. Come to find out, she had already removed them and left them with somebody else,” Pursell said.Investigators said the woman’s plan was to blame the cause of the fire on a space heater to obtain insurance proceeds.”It was her parent’s house, but she had taken renters insurance out,” Pursell said.An ATF dog trained to detect ignitable liquids was brought into several areas of the house. Both people now face second-degree arson and conspiracy to commit a felony.They have not yet been formally charged, but authorities said the duo could be facing more charges.
Two people have been arrested after a Del City home went up in flames last month.
Authorities called it an insurance scheme. More than a month later and the roof is still charred, along with all the furniture.
Authorities said it was no accident.
“The cameras showed some pretty conclusive evidence that placed her at the scene of the time of the fire, as well as another person,” said Brandon Pursell, Del City fire chief.
On Dec. 2, just before 2 a.m., a Del City home on Doris Avenue went up in flames. Firefighters had to evacuate nearby neighbors due to the large fire and heavy smoke.
It was a massive fire that investigators said was set on purpose.
“Just throughout the course of the investigation, the story changed a couple of times,” Pursell said.
Investigators said nearby surveillance video showed the woman living at the house along with another man drove up 20 minutes before the fire was spotted. Authorities said the man went inside for four minutes before they drove away.
Not even two minutes later, investigators said the front window shattered as flames took over.
“Knowing that it was a deliberate act, not only places our firefighters in danger, but it places neighboring houses in danger,” Pursell said.
Authorities said the woman tried to cover her tracks, removing precious heirlooms ahead of the crime.
“One of the things that she had requested that next day as our crews were still there and making sure everything was extinguished, was that she had some personal heirlooms, the ashes of her deceased husband there that we were digging through piles of debris trying to find these ashes for her. Come to find out, she had already removed them and left them with somebody else,” Pursell said.
Investigators said the woman’s plan was to blame the cause of the fire on a space heater to obtain insurance proceeds.
“It was her parent’s house, but she had taken renters insurance out,” Pursell said.
An ATF dog trained to detect ignitable liquids was brought into several areas of the house. Both people now face second-degree arson and conspiracy to commit a felony.
They have not yet been formally charged, but authorities said the duo could be facing more charges.