A Texas woman is accused of arson and is likely to face further charges after authorities said she allegedly deliberately set a fire that destroyed four mobile homes and killed a man and three dogs.
Mirsa Lopez, 38, was arrested following a Saturday fire at a mobile home park in northwest Dallas, according to an arrest warrant affidavit, reported Fox affiliate KDFW.
Investigators said the woman had been in a relationship with an owner of a mobile home when she was refused entry to use the bathroom early in the morning.
“There she was standing,” mobile homeowner Gary Fischer told NBC affiliate KXAS after saying her knocking woke him up. “I said, ‘Try later,’ and I closed the door and locked it.”
Just minutes later, Fischer said he heard a noise outside and saw flames entering his home.
“I saw fire coming in the top, top of the window, and smoke filling the room quick. I mean, I could hardly breathe,” Fischer said.
According to police, the fire quickly spread from the one mobile home and two vehicles to several other homes.
After the blaze was put out, four homes were completely destroyed and two others were damaged.
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Inside one of the homes, a man was found unconscious by firefighters. The unnamed victim was taken to hospital, but couldn’t be revived and was pronounced dead.
“He didn’t live here. He was visiting,” Fischer said.
Police said the accused allegedly told a neighbour that after being refused entry to use the bathroom, she got mad and started the fire.
Several witnesses told police that Lopez was sitting in a chair as the homes went up in flames.
Investigators questioned Lopez and said she allegedly admitted to “using a lighter, which she used to ignite a plastic bag,” and placed it between a car and Fisher’s home.